Printer-friendly

Contact Author

December 27, 2012

Overthinking It

Bourn to Be ... What?

by Ben Lindbergh

Michael Bourn turns 30 today, but barring a buzzer-beating offer, he won’t get the gift of a new contract until after his birthday. Bourn, the highest-ranked free agent remaining on the market, hasn’t attracted the widespread interest that he and agent Scott Boras had hoped for. Some teams may be concerned that the center fielder’s speed-based skill set could suffer once he loses a step; others might be reluctant or unwilling to forfeit the draft pick Bourn would cost them because of the qualifying offer he received from the Braves. Regardless of their reasons for looking elsewhere, several potential buyers for Bourn have already removed themselves from the running by making other moves: the Nationals, Phillies, Reds, and A’s have landed center fielders via trade, while the Giants and Braves have invested in other free agents, re-signing Angel Pagan and bringing in B.J. Upton, respectively.

It’s still too soon for Bourn to panic or consider seeking new representation. While it’s possible that he’ll have to settle for the so-called “pillow contract” that some Boras clients have had to swallow when their expected megadeals never materialized, Boras has often wangled the biggest possible payday by waiting until late in the offseason, when some teams are desperate for an upgrade and there are few attractive alternatives to his high-profile clients.

While the pool of potential suitors has shrunk, several destinations are still in play. Of course, some teams with vacancies in center probably aren’t realistic possibilities: Bourn would improve teams like the Mets, Astros, or even Rockies (in the event of a Dexter Fowler deal) as much as anyone, but those clubs are too strapped for cash or too far from competition to consider signing such a big-ticket item. Assuming he’ll eventually land an Upton-esque deal—or at least a contract of equivalent annual value over fewer years—the following three teams would both be able to afford Bourn and benefit most from his services:

Seattle Mariners
After inheriting a weak defensive Seattle team in 2008, Mariners GM Jack Zduriencik made it his mission to build a club that could catch the ball. The M’s have been one of baseball’s best defensive teams in every season since. Incumbent center fielder Franklin Gutierrez was a vital part of Zduriencik’s initial defensive makeover, but health problems have limited him to just 132 games over the past two seasons, and he could be a year away from free agency if Seattle doesn’t exercise his $7.5 million option for 2014. While Bourn might have made an even bigger impact before the Mariners decided to move Safeco’s fences in, the park should still play plenty big. Signing Bourn, sliding Gutierrez over to an outfield corner, and trading some of the team’s surplus outfield parts for a starter would solve a lot of problems for Seattle.

Bourn would also bring some on-base ability to the top of an order that’s sorely in need of anyone who can avoid making outs: Mariners leadoff batters (mostly Dustin Ackley) managed only a .281 OBP last season, by far the lowest of any AL team. The M’s have largely been linked to hitters who would have improved the team's power output, like Josh Hamilton and Nick Swisher, but putting more men on base would go a long way toward curbing their offensive ineptitude. Improving their performance after they reach base wouldn’t hurt, either: the Mariners were the AL’s second worst baserunning team in 2012, at more than eight runs below average. Bourn, who led the majors with 11.7 Baserunning Runs last season, could have put them in the black by himself.

Texas Rangers
Texas has been one of the least active contending teams this winter, but not for lack of trying: the Rangers have expressed interest in nearly every top free agent and trade target, but they haven’t inked anyone more expensive than A.J. Pierzynski. Meanwhile, the division-rival Angels have raided the Rangers’ roster for Josh Hamilton, leaving Texas in a tenuous position for 2013 unless the team makes another move. On Wednesday afternoon, Rangers GM Jon Daniels admitted, “It’s a decent chance we’ll look to add somebody,” and that somebody might be Bourn.