APRIL 29: The Braves have released Bourjos, David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution tweets.
APRIL 25: The Braves announced Wednesday that they’ve designated outfielder Peter Bourjos for assignment. His roster spot will go to Ronald Acuña Jr., whose contract has been formally selected from Triple-A Gwinnett. Acuña will make his MLB debut tonight.
Bourjos, 31, has a longstanding reputation as a premium defensive outfielder but has struggled at the plate in recent seasons. The 2018 campaign was no exception, as Bourjos got off to a 3-for-25 start to the season, with a pair of walks against seven strikeouts through a total of 27 plate appearances. He latched on with the Braves on a Major League contract late in Spring Training after being cut loose by the Cubs, with whom he’d been playing on a minor league deal.
Atlanta will have a week to trade Bourjos, run him through outright waivers or simply release him. If he clears outright waivers, he’d have the option to reject the outright assignment in favor of free agency, given that he has seven-plus years of MLB service time — well north of the minimum three he’d need to exercise that right. Considering the crowded outfield situation with the Braves with Acuna, Ender Inciarte, Nick Markakis and Preston Tucker all on the big league roster, it’s quite possible that the veteran Bourjos looks to find another opportunity with an organization that has a less-solidified mix of outfielders in the Majors.
Peter from 5 years ago would be good for any roster. Speed doesn’t age well
His speed is still there. His bat is gone.
Peter is a perfect fit for the Cubs. When you look at the injuries and lack of production up and down the lineup, Bourjos would be a cheap pickup that offers a serious upgrade to what they have right now.
The Cubs released him in March. They’re don’t want him Lol
They don’t*
Go away please
He will forever be known for missing the plate at home in game 2 against Philly in Braves Lore.
Yup. good riddance.
Why is Jr. behind Acuna’s name? Acuna Sr. never played in the Major Leagues.
Because that is his name….
The question I have is why on a road Sox jersey does JDM’s read “J.D. Martinez” when the team has no other Martinez on the roster?
serious question?
That’s how he’s choosing to have it displayed on his jersey. Good enough for me.
His Dad’s name is Ronald as well. Usually most sons are then called Jr. when this happens.
Either you’re a troll or an idiot.
He could be both.
Or both
Likely both
wasn’t even impressive in the field either…
Plus defender even in very limited duty. He’s a CF, yet all these teams pick him up and put him in a corner OF spot?
I remember when Peter Bourjos got replaced by Mike Trout. Now he’s replaced by Acuna.
He wasn’t replaced by Mike Trout. The Angels OF at that time had Trout in LF and Torii Hunter in RF. I wanna say it was Calhoun that pushed him off the roster after his first major injury.
“If he clears outright waivers, he’d have the option to reject the outright assignment in favor of free agency, given that he has seven-plus years of MLB service time — well north of the minimum three he’d need to exercise that right.”
This is not really a correct description of what is happening here.
A player with 3+ years of service time has the right to elect free agency instead of being outrighted, but he forfeits the remainder of their contract by doing so.
A player with 5+ years of service time (like Bourjos) can refuse an outright assignment, forcing his team to trade or release him (or keep him on the active roster). Because these situations often end with the player’s release, it easy to see how this would be confused for “electing free agency”, but this is not the case, as the player still receives the rest of the money owed in his contact.
source: CBA Articles XIX-A, XX-D
Although if Bourjos agreed to an advance consent clause (which I assume is a possibility for a player in his situation), then the Braves can simply terminate his contract within the 45-day window, rendering his service time rights moot.
Thanks for explaining the situation so well! I get confused easily. Namaste!
Law school?
$1MM to get 25 at bats. I want that gig.
Bourjos is just awful
No he’s not.
Atlantic League player
He will get picked up by someone. Injuries popping up all over baseball. Used correctly, he’s an asset. Why Atlanta gave him a major league deal, then never played him, made no sense to me? They knew Acuna was coming and Tucker was already penciled in as the stop gap until Acuna showed up.
He would be welcomed with the Rangers anytime.