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Phillies Place Justin Bour On Waivers

By Steve Adams | November 14, 2018 at 3:08pm CDT

The Phillies have placed first baseman Justin Bour on waivers, tweets Jim Salisbury of NBC Sports Philadelphia. The move comes in advance of a fairly notable deadline, as teams have until Tuesday of next week to protect players from the Rule 5 Draft by adding them to the 40-man roster.

The decision to place Bour on waivers effectively amounts to a non-tender that was not all that difficult to foresee. The former Marlins first baseman was eligible for arbitration for a second time this winter and was projected by MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz to get a raise from $3.4MM to $5.2MM. Bour was acquired in an August swap that sent minor league lefty McKenzie Mills to the Marlins. His time with the Phils proved to be exceptionally brief, as he tallied just 54 plate appearances in a limited role and batted .224/.296/.347. Bour was picked up to be a bench bat down the stretch and never looked like a long-term fit on a roster that included both Rhys Hoskins and Carlos Santana.

Bour, 30, had a down season overall at the plate in ’18, hitting .227/.341/.404 between Miami and Philadelphia. That marked a notable drop-off from his most productive seasons, when he batted a combined .279/.359/.510 in 750 PAs from 2016-17 with the Marlins. Though Bour has always had his limitations — that impressive slash line from 2016-17 is the product of being heavily shielded from opposing lefties, and he’s limited to first base only — there was still reported trade interest in him two summers ago. President of baseball ops Michael Hill said at the time that he wasn’t interested in discussing long-term assets in trades, though, and Bour stayed put in Miami. Under new ownership, the Marlins went on to strip down the roster and trade numerous controllable assets just months after Hill originally made those comments.

Other teams will have the chance to claim Bour off waivers, but if they do so, he’ll remain arbitration-eligible and carry that same projected salary to a new team. If Bour clears waivers, he has enough service time to reject an outright assignment in favor of free agency — a route he’d surely take. That said, even with his impressive numbers from 2016-17, Bour could find a fairly tepid market in free agency. Teams haven’t spent much on first-base-only sluggers in recent winters, as evidenced by minimal contracts secured by the likes of Matt Adams, Lucas Duda and Logan Morrison, among others.

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Philadelphia Phillies Transactions Justin Bour

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View Comments (60)
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60 Comments

  1. redsoxfan2

    7 years ago

    Hope the Red Sox sign him

    1
    Reply
    • Macburns

      7 years ago

      They’ve kinda got Mitch Moreland, who also hits left, is a slightly more consistent hitter and a MUCH better defender…uh uh.

      5
      Reply
      • yallhaters

        7 years ago

        And Steve Pearce

        Reply
  2. acarneglia

    7 years ago

    A claim by the Yankees wouldn’t be surprising. If they don’t believe whole heartedly in Bird or Voit

    2
    Reply
    • treewoof

      7 years ago

      Bird could use a change of scenery. Maybe NY could trade Bird and a prospect for a SP and platoon Voit/Bour. What do you think?

      Reply
    • Slevin

      7 years ago

      Nobody believes half heartedly in Bird.

      3
      Reply
    • Judge Judy

      7 years ago

      Bour is a poor man’s more expensive Voit. Voit is a million times better than Bour. A Bird/Voit platoon should produce 50+ home runs over a full season.

      5
      Reply
      • yanks02026

        7 years ago

        Bout has produced in his career. Voit had a good 130 atbats and that’s it. He’s also going on 28. People need to stop acting like Voit is a young prospect who has star potential

        5
        Reply
        • baseballpun

          7 years ago

          It’s possible the Cards made a mistake but they also let him go for a reason. He thrived in a short sample being the 7th(?) best hitter in the lineup…to assume that’s The Answer is a little silly.

          1
          Reply
        • Slevin

          7 years ago

          Judy is a TROLL!!!

          Reply
        • NotaGM

          7 years ago

          really??? jose b. is just 1 example of a late bloomer…want more??? Charlie Morton…

          know the game before you make your claim.

          Reply
        • NotaGM

          7 years ago

          your comment was very productive…who’s the troll?

          Reply
      • thelastonetodie

        7 years ago

        That combo will not produce 50hr splitting time

        Reply
        • NotaGM

          7 years ago

          2 yrs ago bird was that fraction for production. Viot is a late bloomer…so where is the arguement??

          Reply
    • gotothevideotape

      7 years ago

      Yanks wanted him b4, but I think
      In Voit We Trust, lol, for now!

      1
      Reply
  3. braves25

    7 years ago

    Am I the only one still scratching my head about this move the Phillies made at the trade deadline? It just didn’t make sense when they already had 1 first baseman playing out of position…As a Braves fan I really hope they continue making these types of moves though LOL!!

    8
    Reply
    • realgone2

      7 years ago

      I genuinely think they were going to use him as a secret weapon against the Braves in the last few weeks of the season. Then the team totally crapped the bed and it was a moot point.

      7
      Reply
  4. unpaidobserver

    7 years ago

    Feels like an A’s pickup but…they sorta have a full infield.

    Reply
  5. Christian Larsen

    7 years ago

    Can be a good pickup for the Twins

    4
    Reply
    • TwinsHomer

      7 years ago

      Very much so. Twins will have interest. Lineup should be righty heavy in 2019. Tyler Austin/Bour platoon at DH 1st base might not be a deal but that’s an upgrade from the slowmo disaster last year.

      1
      Reply
      • TwinsHomer

        7 years ago

        be ideal*

        Reply
    • NotaGM

      7 years ago

      twins will release like they did with ortiz

      Reply
  6. Phillies2017

    7 years ago

    Genuinely have no idea why they gave up Mills to get him in the first place. Seems like a waste of a prospect

    Reply
    • Brixton

      7 years ago

      Mills stinks and Bour was supposed to be a good bench bat

      Reply
    • 85Phanatic

      7 years ago

      Mills wasn’t setting the minors on fire. If the Phils had remained in contention, Bour was supppse to help against the Braves in September. Made sense in theory.

      Reply
  7. hiflew

    7 years ago

    He’d be a great pick up for the Rockies. I was hoping they’d have traded for him last off season. Now that he is essentially free, they should really go for it.

    6
    Reply
  8. xfloydsterx

    7 years ago

    NL teams have first dibs though

    Reply
  9. bobtillman

    7 years ago

    Hey Steve, when exactly is “the next Tuesday of next week”?

    Reply
    • dray16

      7 years ago

      Next Tuesday.

      Reply
  10. bobtillman

    7 years ago

    A Bird in the hand is worth two Bours in the bush…….

    2
    Reply
  11. Luke Strong

    7 years ago

    I can already see it now on opening day, starting at 1B for the Detroit Tigers… I’d guess they could get him on a 1 year deal for around $2.5M. He’d be foolish to sign anything more than a single year deal. He’s the perfect type of player for any rebuilding team that needs to get through a meaningless season, and for him, it’s an opportunity to show he has matured into a more complete hitter and maybe springboard it into a better deal next off-season.

    1
    Reply
    • Cat Mando

      7 years ago

      a761506…………………
      From the article…..”Other teams will have the chance to claim Bour off waivers, but if they do so, he’ll remain arbitration-eligible and carry that same projected salary to a new team.” His projected arb $5.2M…he made $3.4 last year.

      Reply
      • JJB

        7 years ago

        If he’s non-tendered though (which he will be when no teams claim him), then he’s a free agent facing a pay cut in 2019 with another glut of 1B/DH types available.

        2
        Reply
  12. bobtillman

    7 years ago

    OTOH, what’s more Bour-ing than a Bush….I’ll be going home now…..

    Reply
  13. noah_lowen15

    7 years ago

    He’d be a great pickup for the Angels. They need a power left handed bat in their lineup. They should go for it!

    Reply
    • Kyle Gipson

      7 years ago

      It’s a need (cheap lh power at first) for the Angels, but it isn’t necessarily a fit. That would give them two guys who can only play first or dh in Bour and Pujols and a DH only (at least in 2019) player in Ohtani. Wouldn’t make sense to keep all three on the roster. Of course you can release Pujols and trade or sign a right handed guy who can platoon with bour and play other positions (maybe a Howie Kendrick or Steve Pearce type)

      Reply
    • Kyle Gipson

      7 years ago

      I see moose or Murphy as much more likely. That way you have options of moose playing first or third (cozart/fletcher at either second and third or at second with Pujols at first respectively) or Murphy playing first or second (fletcher at second/cozart at third or cozart/fletcher at third, Pujols at first respectively). Your lineup would end up as

      1. Calhoun
      2. Simmons
      3. Trout
      4. Ohtani
      5. Upton
      6. Moose/Murphy
      7. Pujols/Cozart
      8. Catcher (assuming an acquired player)
      9. Fletcher/Cozart

      That could be at lot worse (especially if the catcher is grandal, I dont think Ramos’ injury history makes sense with the dh situation). It should leave room for some pitching acquisition (eovaldi, Morton, Miller, Herrera, ect), depending on the cat her acquisition and roster decisions made on the numerous number of back of the rotation starters (shoemaker, Meyers, Barria, Ramirez, ect)

      Reply
  14. stretch123

    7 years ago

    Bour is a great DH option type, with 25-30 HR power… Would be great on a contender that has a great offense. Think Red Sox, Yankees, Astros, Indians, etc. Also a great clubhouse guy.

    Reply
  15. gorav114

    7 years ago

    Sounds like the Orioles first baseman Chris Davis exactly. Hope they don’t give him 171 million too. smh

    Reply
  16. pinstripes17

    7 years ago

    He’d be a good claim/signing by Colorado, they need a real first baseman.

    2
    Reply
  17. metfan4ever

    7 years ago

    So The Yankees or Redsox are going to get him off waivers—-which means every team has to pass on him for the Sox to claim him and almost every team has to pass on him for the yankees to get him. Please-

    Reply
  18. MarlinsFanBase

    7 years ago

    It would be pretty funny if, after the Marlins traded him to the Phillies for a prospect, in a trade that made zero sense for the Phillies, if the Marlins go and pick him up now for far less than they would’ve had to pay if they kept him.

    2
    Reply
  19. weaselpuppy

    7 years ago

    Good sign and flip candidate for rebuilders too. Tigers especially, need lefty power and a guy that can keep Miggy at DH the majority of the year.

    3
    Reply
  20. Nathan Fenstemaker

    7 years ago

    seems like a good fit, for Detroit. they need some more LH at bats, don’t have any 1B options knocking on door. Much like Fiers, the arb salary wouldn’t hurt future teams.

    If he bounces back, trade him for a lottery ticket. If he doesn’t the team has a bunch of money coming off books this year, so it won’t put them in luxury tax hell or anything like that.

    1
    Reply
    • GarryHarris

      7 years ago

      Miguel Cabrera will be playing 1B for Detroit for the next 5 years. They won’t pay him + $30M/Yr to just sit on the bench and take an occasional AB as a DH.

      1
      Reply
      • cxcx

        7 years ago

        Why do you not allow for him being a full time dh?

        Reply
        • GarryHarris

          7 years ago

          Miggy is not a bad 1B and I don’t think the Tigers are concentrating on bringing up 1B from their minors. Nicholas Castellanos may end up being the Tigers primary DH next season, if not, they will use DH to give rest to position players..

          Reply
  21. bobtillman

    7 years ago

    A case where arbitration actually hurts the player. Bour’s not bad; reasonable K-rate and OBP for a guy that might pop 25-30 HRs in a fair park, tho he offers nothing defensively and clogs the bases. That’s worth a lot closer to 2.0-2.5M than 5.2. …I can see him in a couple of places….

    Reply
    • cxcx

      7 years ago

      How does it hurt him? It gives him the chance to be a free agent and play for the going rate for his services for the team of his choosing (from amongst the interested parties, of course). What more could he ask for?

      Reply
  22. baseball1600

    7 years ago

    Tigers, Pirates, or Rays.

    Reply
  23. GarryHarris

    7 years ago

    I predict Justin Bour becomes a free agent then signs with COL. Any other predictions?

    Reply
    • NotaGM

      7 years ago

      nice outlook…may help his value on a one year deal playing on that stadium

      Reply
  24. imgman09

    7 years ago

    American League Guy all the way,can only play one position maybe add Toronto to the mix if they do away with Smoak

    Reply
  25. mike.gordon34

    7 years ago

    Nationals need a lefty first baseman off the bench. Man is also a dc native. Seems like a perfect fit

    Reply
  26. bts76

    7 years ago

    Would be interesting in Texas or Colorado. He still has 30 HR potential

    Reply
  27. Club39

    7 years ago

    Detroit! Yes we’re stuck with Miggy for the next 5 years but his David Ortizesque years should start right now.

    Reply
  28. suddendepth

    7 years ago

    Do not like this move. It leaves them less positioned to buffer a Santana trade. I am the biggest Carlos supporter but he needs to be traded. Who backs up at 1B if Bour and Santana are both gone? Franco? Walding? Someone new?

    Reply
  29. Backup Catcher to the Backup Catcher

    7 years ago

    Never like it when a team (Phillies) just gives away a player, and that is what they are essentially doing with Bour. But in their defense, there is no room for Bour on the Phillies now that Rhys Hoskins is gonna be an everyday 1B., and especially if he is due to make $5 million in arbitration. Bour will end up a FA and probably hit 30 HR for somebody if he gets the at bats. A platoon of Bour and McMahon at 1B in Colorado does make sense if the Rox commit to Ian Desmond as their regular LF.

    1
    Reply
    • suddendepth

      7 years ago

      Watch him go to the Nats and share time with Zimmerman and return to killing the Phillies.

      Reply
  30. alc47

    7 years ago

    I could see the Mets being in on him

    Reply

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