FEB. 22: Bourn’s deal also comes with up to $3.5MM worth of incentives based on plate appearances, reports Crasnick (Twitter link). In total, the contract can max out at $5.5MM with enough playing time.
FEB. 20: The Orioles have reached agreement on a contract with outfielder Michael Bourn, as Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com first reported (via Twitter). It’s a minor-league pact that comes with a camp invite, Jon Heyman of Fan Rag tweets. Bourn would earn $2MM if he cracks the MLB roster, per Heyman.
Bourn, who is a client of Lagardere Sports, will have a chance to opt out of his deal if he isn’t added to the 40-man late in camp, though there’s a bit of discord on the date. ESPN.com’s Jerry Crasnick (via Twitter) has it as March 25th, while Kubatko tweets that it’s actually the 27th. Regardless, the veteran will be able to seek greener pastures if the team decides not to commit to him.
At 34 years of age, Bourn is no longer the player he once was when starring in center field for the Braves. But he showed that there’s still some gas left in the tank during his stint late last year with the O’s, earning plaudits from the Baltimore front office and field staff.
Over 55 plate appearances in Baltimore, Bourn slashed .283/.358/.435 and drew six walks against nine strikeouts. Those numbers compared favorably to his best full seasons in the majors, when he was rarely much more than a league-average hitter but nonetheless added significant value with the glove and on the bases.
Of course, that’s rather a small sample, and the broader recent picture isn’t as favorable. Bourn’s offensive production has lagged since he signed on with the Indians in advance of the 2013 season, and he has struggled in particular over the last two seasons.
Even if it would be optimistic to expect Bourn’s late-2016 work at the plate to carry over, there’s reason to hope he can make a strong contribution. The veteran still rates well on the bases, and rates as at least a roughly average fielder. While the O’s already have two lefty platoon outfielders penciled into their roster, Seth Smith and Hyun Soo Kim, neither is capable of playing center. Bourn figures to compete with Joey Rickard and minor-league signees Craig Gentry and Logan Schafer for a bench spot in camp.
ridiculous
How is a minor league deal ridiculous?
Great insight. Love the detail!
I love it. He has to prove himself before he gets paid.
How many OFers do they need? They must not feel comfortable with the rule 5 picks. I think they will keep Santander by placing him on the DL to start the season, then using him as a backup once healthy but I’m not sure about Tavarez.
I think this is the best move Dan
And company has made. He should battle kim for the lead off spot and he may be the only player to steal more than 6 bases this year…
I disagree
Whos gonna steal more than 6 bases. They stole 11 as a team?
Maybe Manny Machado who had 20 stolen bases two years ago. However, last year he had zero stolen bases.
Is it just me or does it feel like we’ve signed every washed up position player on the market
No it’s not just you. More dumpster diving with hopes of finding a one last gem season among the washed ups.
he’ll get traded by the summer. Orioles pitching will make them lose a lot of games
What does their pitching have to do with them signing an OF to a minor league deal?
Its because most of the posters here base there posts on there own opinion rather than numbers …
Orioles will go into sell mode by the summer. Their offense can carry, but pitching in the AL and especially AL East with average starters won’t get them that far
It’s pretty funny that the same team that won’t go very far is the same one with the most wins in the AL for the last 5 years with average pitching.
What do the last 5 years have to do with this upcoming season?
It’s not a given that he’ll even make the team. Unless he has a spectacular showing in spring training and/or the guys currently on the major league roster get hurt, he most likely will opt out and look for an opportunity with another team.
I’m just happy he’s not in Cleveland anymore…….same with Swisher.
He is-in a way. They’re still paying 9 mil of Johnson’s contract. The Bourn legacy limps on…
Not a bad deal… I am skeptical that he’ll be able to perform like he did in his short stint with the O’s last year. I would have rather gone with Taverez who I think could fulfill the same role that Bourn had. I am just afraid that Bourn might have a good ST and then go ice cold in the season, and we’re stuck with that $2 mil. Not really complaining, it’s not that expensive, but we might lose both rule 5 guys do to a crowded outfield situation…. We shall see.
I could see the O’s making trades to keep both rule 5 picks if they both have a good ST. Then they would have minor league options and stay with the team.
If the O’s keep both Rule 5 guys, that means they have to stay on the 25-man MLB roster all year and can’t be sent down. If that is the case Michael Bourne will not make this club and neither will Gentry. At this point, I see both Rule 5 guys going back as I don’t think either of them make the MLB club.
That’s why I said they’d make a trade to keep them. They would then be with the O’s full time, not just as rule 5 players. They could do whatever they wanted with them.
I believe Santander is hurt so they have a bit to decide on him but Tavarez should get plenty of opportunities in the spring to make the team. Maybe the Os figure they will see if they think he can stick then they let Bourne opt out.
Adam Jones has good speed.
Adam jones is on the decline his speed is maybe average now and is not all that good in center anymore
Jones was never good in center lol
I would have like the see the O’s go after a younger CF everyday player and move Jones to RF. There seems to have been way too much focus on OF positioning for the O’s this season. Kim, Rickard, Smith, Tavarez, Schafer, now Gentry…..and by the way, Trumbo and Chris Davis can play out there and so has Ryan Flaharty who might not even make the club in a utility role. No room for any more OF…… its no wonder they are going to give Dariel Alvarez a shot at becoming a relief pitcher…he is never going to see the light of day in The OF at Camden Yards!
Everyone has said the same thing about this team since the beginning of the Buck Showalter era. Pitching will keep them out of contention, yet, they’re the winningest team in the AL since he took the job
Showalter is one of the best managers at getting the most out of players. I get that Bourne isn’t a great player, but he just signed a minor league contract. Would you rather have him as a depth option or an overpaid OF like Choo on the Rangers?
Bourn will make the major league roster and lead the O’s in stolen bases with 4.
I was thinking at least six