Blue Jays sign Michael Bourn to minor league deal

[Angrioter]

Ben Nicholson-Smith ‏@bnicholsonsmith now2 minutes ago

#BlueJays sign LH hitting OF Michael Bourn to minor league deal per @Ken_Rosenthal

[Angrioter]

ZeKe time is almost over

[THANOS]

Great low-risk signing!

[xposbrad]

Great low-risk signing!

 

If he can't even stick with the Braves, there's a problem..

[flafson]

Great low-risk signing!

 

I'm surprised Shatkins wanted him at all. A reminder of a number of useless contracts they gave away.

[BTS]

Can we get him up over Carrera?

[flafson]

If he can't even stick with the Braves, there's a problem..

 

They probably have so many youngsters that they want to give a shot and not waste a spot for an aging player.

[KingKat]

If he can't even stick with the Braves, there's a problem..

 

Was he competing against Carrerra for a job over there? Otherwise I don't see the relevance.

[Dick_Pole]

If he can't even stick with the Braves, there's a problem..

 

Well a two-tool player with a declining skill set is still an improvement over a zero tool player.

 

The Braves suck because they don't have enough talent at the top-end of the roster. The Jays final 4 bench spots of Carrera, Thole, Smoak/Colabello and Barney are as bad as any team out there and all options for improvement should be explored.

[Pendleton]

Who did he lose out to for playing time in Atlanta? It's definitely worth figuring out if he's at least better than Carerra.

[Governator]

Well a two-tool player with a declining skill set is still an improvement over a zero tool player.

 

The Braves suck because they don't have enough talent at the top-end of the roster. The Jays final 4 bench spots of Carrera, Thole, Smoak/Colabello and Barney are as bad as any team out there and all options for improvement should be explored.

 

What are you talking about, we have a great bench!

 

"Lets bring in a big bat off the bench to drive in the go ahead run"

 

"Uhmm, who's that?"

 

"Good point, well lets bring in the speed off the bench and lets steal a run instead"

 

"You want Carerra or Barney?"

 

"Neither, Marcus Stroman"

[glory]

Bourn at his absolute worst is better than Carrera so not against this move.

 

Shapiro helping out Boras guys (Bourn, Brown). At least we can realistically look at Boras guys in the draft now.

[BTS]

What are you talking about, we have a great bench!

 

"Lets bring in a big bat off the bench to drive in the go ahead run"

 

"Uhmm, who's that?"

 

"Good point, well lets bring in the speed off the bench and lets steal a run instead"

 

"You want Carerra or Barney?"

 

"Neither, Marcus Stroman"

 

Ha, there aren't many useful tools on the bench at all.

 

Thole - catching a knuckleball

Barney - playing defense at 2nd

Colabello - N/A

Carrera - N/A

[KingKat]

Hopefully, they are doing this with the expectation of replacing Carrerra and not just to cover for the injuries in AAA.

[Virgil_Hiltz]

I guess the Cleveland connections continue.....Kenny Lofton must have turned down the Jays offer?

[Dick_Pole]

Ha, there aren't many useful tools on the bench at all.

 

Thole - catching a knuckleball

Barney - playing defense at 2nd

Colabello - N/A

Carrera - N/A

 

For some reason I cracked up when I saw the N/As. I don't know why. It's not funny....well, it is funny for opposing teams and fans, not so much for us.

 

I wonder if Orioles Hangout will ever catch on to the legit comedic factor of spots 22-25 on this team.

[Nafro]

For some reason I cracked up when I saw the N/As. I don't know why. It's not funny....well, it is funny for opposing teams and fans, not so much for us.

 

I wonder if Orioles Hangout will ever catch on to the legit comedic factor of spots 22-25 on this team.

 

Nah I doubt it. Orioles Hangoust suxxxxXxxxxx

[WONDERBAT]

I guess the Cleveland connections continue.....Kenny Lofton must have turned down the Jays offer?

 

I would still take Lofton at age 48 over Zeke.

[Brownie19]

I'm surprised Shatkins wanted him at all. A reminder of a number of useless contracts they gave away.

 

Man they had some bad luck. Bourn was coming off a 6.2 WAR season and Swisher off a 4 WAR season (something like that - I didn't look him up) - and both immediately fell off the cliff after signing.

[Angrioter]

I would still take Lofton at age 48 over Zeke.

 

Easy one.

Willie Canate still walks?

[Abomination]

Good signing. He'd be an excellent replacement for Carrera. Can play all three outfield positions reasonably well, and can come off the bench late in a game to steal a base or two.

[admin]

Man, did he fall off the map. What happened to him?

[Dick_Pole]

Easy one.

Willie Canate still walks?

 

Might as well send an email off to DeWayne Wise while we're at it.

[burlingtonbandit]

Give him a week of games in Buffalo then bring him up to be the 4th OF. He's a horrible hitter but at least is a decent defender and baserunner which is what you want in a 4th OFer.

[KingKat]

Speaking of Lofton, he was still a 3 win player in 2007. Could have been a good signing for someone but his demands were too high. Would have been great for that 2008 Jays team of Shannon Menchkerson infamy.

[KingKat]

Give him a week of games in Buffalo then bring him up to be the 4th OF. He's a horrible hitter but at least is a decent defender and baserunner which is what you want in a 4th OFer.

 

Yeah he's no longer an exceptional CF, possibly not even an above average one but he'd be an above average corner OF to use late in games and managing to steal 17 bases last year without really getting on base suggests the base running ability is still there.

[Dr Negative]

Tbh I think I'd take an age 48 Kenny Lofton over Michael Bourn.

[RealAccountant]

Tbh I think I'd take an age 48 Kenny Lofton over Michael Bourn.

 

Perhaps this is Shapiros way of promoting the new Bourne movie? He did say he was going to increase the Jays revenue streams.

[gbill2004]

This is a great signing...this guy was on my fantasy baseball team just a few years ago and was awesome at stealing bases.

[Hal Johnson]

This is a good signing, if the plan is to have him as 4th OF. Bourn has fallen off a cliff, but he's quite a bit better than Zeke, IMO.