TODAY: The deal is official. Cash or a player to be named will head to Chicago in return for Bourjos.
YESTERDAY, 11:09pm: Bourjos is indeed heading to the Rays in exchange for cash considerations, Dan Hayes of CSN Chicago reports on Twitter.
10:41pm: The Rays are “working on a deal to acquire” outfielder Peter Bourjos from the White Sox, according to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times (Twitter links). Bourjos, who’ll turn 30 in a few days, signed with Chicago on a minor-league deal over the winter.
Valued mostly for his speed and defense, Bourjos has been inconsistent with the bat and owns a lifetime .243/.300/.382 batting line. But he has had his moments at the plate over parts of seven MLB seasons. And he owns a productive .313/.340/.521 slash this spring, seemingly opening the door to semi-regular playing time with the rebuilding White Sox.
It could be, though, that the Sox have other ideas up the middle. 25-year-old switch-hitter Jacob May has topped Bourjos’s stat line and could be ready for a shot at the majors despite meager production last year in his first attempt at Triple-A. With the Article XX(B) free agent decision deadline looming, it seems Bourjos didn’t really factor into the Sox’ plans.
It seems that Bourjos will function as a reserve outfielder in Tampa Bay. As Topkin notes, Colby Rasmus is expected to open the season on the DL, which creates some need for depth. And the club evidently isn’t content with utilizing Mallex Smith as the only center field-capable reserve; like Kevin Kiermaier, he’s a left-handed hitter. What the addition means for Smith remains to be seen.
Huh? Why?
They’ve been looking for a righty to back up Kiermaier
But does he draw rave reviews in center?
That’s old dude, give it up
Yes
gorgeous bourjos!
I guess a good spring training can add to a player’s value?
Seriously? Cash considerations? Was getting the contracts of Danks, Sale, Jackson, Lawrie, and Eaton off the books not enough? At least get back a crappy prospect… Pointless move.
I like it: He can’t hit and he’s 30. No upside, move on.
Can’t hit and he’s 30, but they decided to sign him to a minor league contract with a little more than $1M guaranteed anyway. Then he goes on to slash .313/.340/.521 in spring, and they pretty much let him go for nothing… Unless there’s a substantial amount of cash coming back, which I HIGHLY doubt, there’s really nothing to like about this move.
Most likely the Sox signed Bourjos as insurance in case no other players didn’t “emerge” in ST.
He got outplayed by a younger player who the Sox want to give more playing time to develop.
I think priggs is right. Could have gotten cash and a project low lvl minor league player. You can always find those guys in low a or rookie ball that have a world of potential but need to refine baseball skills. Typically tall project pitchers who can’t throw strikes and were drafted 40th round. lol
Damn them for not getting a player with a 1% chance of being a major leaguer!
It is what it is. He’s not very good, so the Sox moved on. No great loss.
“Cash considerations” could be literally as little as a few dollars, just a goodwill gesture between Chicago and Tampa Bay for a guy Chicago was going to have to release or pay $100,000 later this week. Hard to believe Chicago could have gotten *any* minor league player for Bourjos this close to the Article XX(B) deadline.
I guess this is a way of offsetting Shields’ contract?
Are we really getting our panties bunched over this??? The guy is 30 and a career .243 hitter. What would you expect they get for him??? Stop sounding like Cub fans. Sox fans are smarter than this. Sheesh.
I was agreeing with that comment until that last sentence. =(
Small ball move
Works if it works
I believe the most significant part of this deal is giving Jacob May (with full confidence) a shot at handling CF in the majors while they’re rebuilding and can afford rookie mistakes from time to time. If it works out then they have one less position to worry about once more of their prospects/minor leaguers start getting called up. He isn’t projected to mash, but if he makes the necessary adjustments and continues to hit doubles, steal bases, and score runs while playing solid defense then should be situated well in CF for a long time. Also, we could see him reaching double digit home runs in time, but I’m sure they’d like him to get his on-base up a bit.
He is just awful but you always need depth.
Would have been an upgrade over Hernandez as the backup CF in SF.
Per Chicago Tribune it it cash or a player to be named later.
It’s weird to me how bad he was in RF when he was always a top flight CF.
This move certainly opens the door for switch-hitting Jacob May to get the first shot at the White Sox long term CF job while Charlie Tilson rehabs from his stress reaction, Adam Engel continues to develop at AAA Charlotte and top prospect Luis Alexander Basabe does the same at A-ball in 2017.
The trade of veteran center fielder Peter Bourjos might also help put to rest the convoluted theory of some White Sox fans that surmises the White Sox weren’t really rebuilding, but rather used the terminology just to rid the club of it’s two alleged malcontents, Chris Sale and Adam Eaton. lol
Trades of this nature are all about filling holes. In this case, CF. The PTBNL designation means a handful of Rays players to choose from. The cash both covers what they spent on Bourjos & helps them sign CF that are still available.
I don’t see how any CHW fans can be upset over this move. They are confident they can do better than Bourjos @ CF.
Sir it’s either or lol you don’t get both and the cash is gonna be able 500k I don’t think that gets you very far to signing someone else