Michael Bourn a Phillie or a Nat? Say it ain’t so, Scott Boras
Michael Bourn has been a big part of the Braves' rebuilt offense. (AJC photo by Jason Getz)
We all know that Michael Bourn will be a free agent at season’s end. We all know that he’s represented by the dreaded Scott Boras, meaning he won’t come cheap. We all know that the Braves haven’t been willing to pay for big-ticket free agents lately, unless you count Derek Lowe.
And now comes more good news: If Bourn doesn’t stay here, he’s apt to wind up playing for a team in the Braves’ division.
Buster Olney of ESPN Insider lists the Washington Nationals and the Philadelphia Phillies (link requires registration) as likely-if-not-downright-ardent Bourn suitors. The Washington link has been around a while, and the Philly tie makes sense. Bourn came up in the Phillies’ organization.
On cue, Bob Brookover of the Philadelphia Inquirer names Bourn as a probable target for the Phillies, who just dumped center fielder Shane Victorino and right fielder Hunter Pence. To his credit, Bourn refused to sniff at the notion, telling Brookover: “Ryan [Howard] and Jimmy [Rollins] are friends. I know Cole [Hamels]. I know Kyle Kendrick. I know they have a good team, but right now I’m worried about putting this ‘A’ on my head and going out and playing baseball. That’s about it.”
We’ve gotten used to seeing big names depart Atlanta after a brief layover here — Gary Sheffield, J.D. Drew, Mark Teixeira — but for the Braves to lose Bourn would be a real blow. They’d long sought a center fielder and a leadoff hitter, and in Bourn they’ve found both. And the thought of seeing him leading off for someone else in the same division would be rather revolting. But, as they say in baseball, that’s baseball.
Oh, and how good has Bourn been in 2012? FanGraphs assesses his WAR (wins above a garden-variety replacement player) value as 4.6 games. Among non-pitchers, that’s the 14th-best in baseball. Jason Heyward is 15th, Martin Prado 26th. Be a shame to break up that outfield.
By Mark Bradley
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
202 comments Add your comment
TuffShhhtuff
August 8th, 2012
12:39 pm
I’ve always viewed MOST lawyers as the “scum of the earth” but after seeing a few things Scott Boras has done and said over the years, I’m of the opinion he lives on a snakes belly. ANY athlete who associates themselves with him should be ashamed of themselves. He is bad for sports.
atlpaddy
August 8th, 2012
12:39 pm
Bourn will jump ship because the Braves won’t pay. Bank on it.
Art
August 8th, 2012
12:40 pm
For what it’s worth, at the recent State of the Braves reception for season ticket holders, Fran Wren flat out said that re-signing Bourn was the team’s #1 priority and that they are in a great position to offer him a competitive salary given all the money that is coming off the Braves books this offseason.
Herschel Talker
August 8th, 2012
12:40 pm
Chipper Why(Have you been so good) :
You might be the stupidest human alive. If you think trading Bourn during the season makes him less likely to sign as a free agent with the Phillies, then you sir are a moron.
HT
C from Marietta
August 8th, 2012
12:42 pm
I forgot to add. WTF does Buster Olney know anyone. He is and has always been a jackass.
Coach
August 8th, 2012
12:44 pm
If Bourn really likes it here, I think he’ll be here, but Boras will indeed push the issue for him to test the market and find out how much it feels to be wanted by other teams. Boras, I am sure, will make Bourn feel like that he is worth much more than he really is. Which begs the question…..Are you in it for the money? or the love of the game? Fact is, he can stay here if he wants to and still be rich. Tim Hudson has taken pay cuts to stay in Atlanta because he likes it here, loves the game and is close to his Alabama home.
Watch Bourn take on a Carl Crawford type contract and not live up to the hype. You know, and that would be a damn shame too because I like Bourn and he seems like a nice guy.
Runner-
August 8th, 2012
12:44 pm
Trust me, Bourn is out after this season, the Braves are not willing to offer him how much he wants. He will be a Nat by next season, and the Braves will have to settle for someone like Victorino who would probably hate being a Brave. Face it, with this ownership, Bourn is not going to be a Brave for much longer
Runner-
August 8th, 2012
12:45 pm
Coach,
There has been no indication Bourn has liked his time here more than he would, let’s say, in Washington. He will leave for the bigger payday at the end of the season, guaranteed.
Why?
August 8th, 2012
12:47 pm
@TuffShhhtuff …….Can you blame players for wanting Boras “he’s the best in the business.” Boras will get you an extra 10 million or so that other agent’s wouldn’t be able to get. At the end of the day it’s about the money at some point for athletes.
Tralfaz
August 8th, 2012
12:47 pm
bourn ain’t THAT good. He’s decent, but not great. If he wants to walk, I say let him
Jimmy Crack
August 8th, 2012
12:47 pm
Well, we saved money by not grabbing one of the many expensive and overrated Free Agents who bombed around the league last week. However…
Boris Badenough is the Antichrist. So…
Enjoy him while we can.
tvsportscaster
August 8th, 2012
12:48 pm
Enter your comments here
Stinger 2
August 8th, 2012
12:50 pm
Mark: The price that is being thrown around is 75 million minimum. A 15 and 5 deal. Could take more. I am against these long term high dollar
commitments for a player at Bourn`s age. Too risky. That kind of money can be spend more wisely. Sure, I would not like to see him go to a division rival but that would be better than giving him the amount he will command
at his age. If he was only 25, I would go for it.
Larry
August 8th, 2012
12:51 pm
If he does leave, I’d take a look at Simmons in that role…but Gonzalez could take half a season to think of this.
Old Squid
August 8th, 2012
12:52 pm
No way the Braves keep Bourn. They will not offer the money that several other teams will offer.
With Chipper and Bourn gone next year this team will likely be out of the running for the post season.
The bottom line is that until we get new owners who really want to win, this will remain a mediocre team.
sb
August 8th, 2012
12:53 pm
Should have traded him and got some prospects in return instead of just letting him walk in free agency with nothing coming back
Speedy Gone zalez
August 8th, 2012
12:55 pm
The Bravos will certainly make a good offer & he will certainly receive & take a better offer somewhere else not named Atlanta, too bad cause its taken a long time to fill the CF hole after Andruw left so looks like we’ll be back to needing 2 outfielders again after Prado moves to 3rd!
JT Grace
August 8th, 2012
12:55 pm
Olney seems to think that Bourn will get up to 22M/yr in a multi-year deal. If that is the case then let some other team overpay for him. The Braves should make their priority giving McCann a contract extension.
ChipperisGod
August 8th, 2012
12:57 pm
Wren needs to do EVERYTHING to keep Bourn. The guy gets on base a lot and gets 170-200 hits a year with 40+ stolen bases. We have plenty of great young pitching, ship Hanson and keep Mac and Bourn. This MUST be done. Last thing we need is the evil Phillies or Nats to get him.
We have more money than we’ve had in a long time, so use it to keep this man. If he asks for 100 million that’s one thing, but hopefully he’ll keep it to 50-60 million. This is a guy that has ACTUALLY PROVEN he can play for our team. He’s actually worth that amount of money unlike Uggla and Kawakami. Give the money to the people who actually deserve it and have proven they can play for us, Wren.
I have a bad feeling Uggla’s absurd contract might keep us from keep Bourn, unless we can ship him to the Yanks or something. He’s not worth the money he’s making and if there’s a way to keep Bourn and Uggla is standing in the way, get rid of him. I appreciate Dan’s hustle and effort, but it’s time to realize, he’s not the man we thought we were getting, even if he’s starting to hit a bit better.
htownbravesfan
August 8th, 2012
12:57 pm
To Coach: If you think Constanza can play centerfield everyday in the majors, then you haven’t been watching too much baseball. The guy is no better than a .225 hitter with no threat of anything but a bunt or slap single. If the Braves give Constanza this job, then I will never say a belittling word to any of you Frank Wren haters again.
bobbymahlon
August 8th, 2012
12:59 pm
I think we have two players that have Boros for an agent,JJ and Hanson. So forget them along with Bourn. What Boros would want for Bourn in a longe term contract will be redicules because as he gets older he will lose a step and stop stealing bases like all base stealers do in addition to his range in the outfield.
Dozer
August 8th, 2012
1:00 pm
No way he gets 15M a year – lead off hitters just don’t get that (excluding Jeter) – this is the real test for Liberty & Mcgurk to demonstrate commitment. My guess is he walks & we get subjected to that nonsense about their TV contract limitations (by the way – who negotiated that for the Braves?) and wealth in the farm system….
Bravothusiast
August 8th, 2012
1:01 pm
Make him a qualifying offer, let him walk and take the draft picks. I’d rather go after somebody like Hamilton who would probably be more willing to sign a shorter contract due to his “injury-prone” label even if he would demand more per year. When Bourn reaches the end of whatever contract he signs, he will become an albatross. Speed guys like him are notorious for their fast declines. I think Simmons will turn into a solid leadoff hitter- great contact guy with a little bit of speed. A true power bat like Hamilton is what this lineup needs. I’m more worried about replacing Chipper’s bat than I am Bourn’s.
Tumbledown
August 8th, 2012
1:01 pm
Correct me if I am wrong. If the Braves give Bourn a qualifying offer and he chooses to go elsewhere, the Braves would then get a high compensatory draft pick. Thus, the Braves could get something back with Bourn signing elsewhere. Right? Wrong?
Tumbledown
August 8th, 2012
1:04 pm
The Braves are on a budget. They have to think long and hard as to whether Bourn is worth a big expensive contract for a time period when his output will likely decline.
Back to my original post: let’s just focus on the here and now while the Braves have Bourn (and Chipper) on the payroll.
DC Brave Fan
August 8th, 2012
1:06 pm
Look at the history of 30 year old speedsters and how their performance drops off and get back to me. It’s easy to say you don’t want to break this OF up — who would? But are you willing to pay 5-6 years at the top of the market for a guy who will likely face a significant decline on the back half of the deal? That’s not an easy issue to get past if you have a limited budget.
Bravothusiast
August 8th, 2012
1:06 pm
I don’t know all the ins and outs of the new CBA, but I believe you are correct, Tumbledown. If a player like Bourn gets traded mid season, then the team who acquired him can no longer get picks for letting him walk, but I believe in the Braves situation, they would still get the picks.
The Dude
August 8th, 2012
1:06 pm
What kind of money are we talking with Bourn? In asking that question, the real question is: do the Braves owners have any intentions of spending money? On the other side… we don’t fill up Turner Field, so we shouldn’t gripe a whole lot about how much money gets spent.
bgtodd01
August 8th, 2012
1:09 pm
They better re-sign him….all fans need to show him lots of love and let him know how much we appreciate what he does for the team….
Bravothusiast
August 8th, 2012
1:11 pm
I would expect Bourn to get something similar to Reyes’s contract – $106 million over 6 years. I’m thinking a little bit less, maybe $85 million over 5 years?
tulsabravo
August 8th, 2012
1:12 pm
The Braves should have traded him before the July 31st deadline. Now we get nothing of value from him except memories of what could have been. I don’t understand how the Braves could have put all their eggs in the World Series basket without seriously upgrading the team. Obviously, management is hoping that making the playoffs will be enough to carry the Braves to a World Series, like it did for St. Louis last year. Sorry, but I don’t see that happening. And it’s painful.
bruce mac
August 8th, 2012
1:14 pm
Yea, I would really miss seeing Borny strike out more than any of the Braves since Jeff Francour. I would much rather have Victorino than Borne. There are several other free agents that would be cheaper and better. Good riddance, hope you go to the Nats. They deserve a strike out king at the top of their lineup. Is he even looking at the friggin ball half the time?
Patrick
August 8th, 2012
1:14 pm
I really hope that the Cheap ass Braves are smart enough to know that they will not find a player like this anytime soon..and that they do not have a player like this in the minor league system at all.
After all the years of searching for a leadoff hitter…I hope the spend money to keep him.
They have shown the willingness to spend money on junk (Lowe, Kawakami, Uggla (if he keeps not hitting)
So, I hope that they spend money wisely for once!
Benjamin
August 8th, 2012
1:19 pm
Losing Bourn would be devastating to the club, without question.
The good news is that we should have plenty of money built in this offseason to prevent that from happening, with Lowe’s contract coming off the books as well [10 million] as Chipper’s and [potentially] Huddy’s. Factor in the money that Bourn makes already, and there should be plenty in reserve to retain him. It really should boil down in the end to whether or not the guy wants to stay here more than anything else.
Coach
August 8th, 2012
1:19 pm
I am just saying, he can stay in atlanta if he wants to. Atlanta will make him some type of offer, and it will be up to him to accept the offer or not. The agent works for the client, not the other way around, but I am sure that Boras will work his magic with Bourn. I mean, look at Hudson…..He could have made alot more money playing elsewhere, but he likes being close to home and he likes playing the game, and whichever idiot said that Bourn should be traded needs to have their head examined!!!! We are in the middle of a pennant race as the wild card leader and chasing the Nats for the Eastern title!!!! Quit sipping the Kool Aid will ya??!!
cornjolio
August 8th, 2012
1:21 pm
Why re-sign Michael Bourn when you can have Dan Uggla to pay the big bucks to ?
Ryan Langerhans or Matty Diaz in CF are much cheaper options in 2013.
Bravothusiast
August 8th, 2012
1:21 pm
I’d also rather have Victorino than Bourn. Him and Hamilton are both FA. Denard Span is a trade option, as is Peter Bourjos. There’s options out there better than overpaying for somebody like Bourn IMO.
Ron Roberts
August 8th, 2012
1:22 pm
Can’t help that Fredi rarely gives the “steal” sign. How’s a guy s’posed to pad his stats for his free-agent year?
And Meg....
August 8th, 2012
1:25 pm
Mr. Bradley, do you think Liberty Media will ever sell the Braves? How come they seem so resistant to sell them yet they do not help them with payroll?
Joe
August 8th, 2012
1:25 pm
Why in hell would we have traded bourn at the deadline? We are within striking
distance of the nationals and he’s our leadoff/cf. Please tell me how trading him would
make any sense
JustAThought
August 8th, 2012
1:26 pm
Maybe if the Braves didn’t average 25,000 empty stadium seats a night, we might be able to afford to keep guys like Bourn.
O.J.
August 8th, 2012
1:28 pm
I really like Bill Shanks idea of trading Dan Uggla for another player that has a bad contract, like Alfonso Soriano, let Soriano stay in LF, move Prado back to 2nd and have Juan Francisco play 3rd.
Joe
August 8th, 2012
1:28 pm
All those cheap options yall are throwing out, arent very good full time players. Just because
they are cheap, they wont help.us win much of anything
Coach
August 8th, 2012
1:28 pm
What the Braves can do, or what teams need to do, is have player’s contracts backloaded in terms of how their money is to be paid out annually. Think about it, is a 37 year old outfielder with weak legs and lack of spring in their step worth $15 million dollars, I seriously doubt it. Pay the money early in the contract while they are at their peak, and let it decline with their age/performance.
Nativebird
August 8th, 2012
1:29 pm
NO WAY, NO HOW. aint happenin as long as Liberty Media is running the show. Say goodbye to Bourn now, because anyone that thinks Liberty is paying this guy is smoking something not from this earth.
Joe
August 8th, 2012
1:30 pm
@Oj….are you serious or do you not watch baseball?? Man im glad you people arent in the front office
ChopAttack
August 8th, 2012
1:30 pm
Braves might believe Simmons is the future leadoff hitter. If losing Bourn means the Braves can sign a dependable RH bat to replace Bourn it might be in the team’s best interest. Move Heyward to CF… and move someone to RF.
The Braves will likely give Francisco a chance to be the everyday third basemen. He’s another LH hitter. Getting a good RH bat is a priority.
Joe
August 8th, 2012
1:32 pm
Jj will be non-tendered. he succs this year, why would we.give him a raise.
ChopAttack
August 8th, 2012
1:32 pm
People need to get over the ownership. The Braves have a terrible local TV contract (not Liberty’s fault) and they have a half empty stadium. When your team has an average attendance it deserves an average payroll.
Braves Guy
August 8th, 2012
1:33 pm
WE DON’T WANT TO SIGN HIM!!! Free-agent contracts for (soon to be) over-30 outfielders are bad news. Werth, Soriano, Bay…look how badly the Crawford deal looks so far. Bourn is great right now with his speed and D. He probably will for a couple years as a Phillie or Nat. But in years 3-6 of his contract we will be SO happy we’re not the ones paying $15-20 mil for a slap hitter.