Phillies Trade Chips: Peter Bourjos
The Philadelphia Phillies have a number of potentially valuable chips to deal as the MLB non-waiver deadline approaches, including a red-hot outfielder.
When new Phillies GM Matt Klentak selected outfielder Peter Bourjos off waivers from the Saint Louis Cardinals back on December 2nd of this past off-season, the move caused some scratching of heads among the fan base.
The Phillies already had Odubel Herrera, Aaron Altherr, and Cody Asche on the roster and apparently needing regular playing time. In the minor leagues, top outfield prospect Nick Williams appeared to be just a few months away from being ready for his big league shot.
If the club needed an extra veteran outfielder to suck up innings and at-bats at the big league level while awaiting the arrival of Williams, then many fans would have been very happy to see the Phillies bring back popular right fielder Jeff Francoeur for one more go-around.
Also, the Phillies controlled the top pick in the Rule 5 Draft, which at the time of the Bourjos signing was just a week away. It was rumored that outfielder Tyler Goeddel would be that top pick, which would mean the club had to plan on him possibly being carried all year on the big league roster.
But Klentak saw something that he liked in the former Angels’ 10th round 2005 draftee who had six years of big league experience. Remember, Klentak had been an exec with the Halos previously, and knew Bourjos from those days.
In 2011, Bourjos had hit .271 for the Angels with a dozen homers and 22 stolen bases while playing on a full-time basis for the only time in his big league career.
“Since that time, he really hasn’t had the full-time opportunity that he had in 2011,” said Klentak to reporter David Murphy in a Philly.com piece back in December. “Part of that has been some nagging injuries, part of that was the development of Mike Trout, part of that was getting traded to St. Louis, which had a pretty good outfield . ”
Here in Philly, Bourjos got off to a rocky start. Following an 0-2 at Saint Louis on May 5th he was at a season-low .165 mark. Even as late as June 12th, Bourjos’ batting average was still below the feeble fabled ‘Mendoza Line’ at a .197 mark.
And then something clicked in, turning his season completely around. From June 13th through July 9th, the final game before the MLB All-Star Game break, Bourjos hit for a .412/.457/.671 slash line with seven doubles, three triples, three home runs, 9 RBI, and 17 runs scored over a 25-game stretch.
Bourjos also was playing a fantastic right field, using his speed to track down balls in the gap, up the first base/right field line, and back against outfield walls.
In short, the talent that Klentak had observed a few years ago with the Angels was on full display. The hot stretch also put Bourjos on the map for contending organizations looking to add a valuable and versatile outfielder at the MLB trade deadline.
So who might be able to use a speedy outfielder who can play everyday, but would also have real value coming off the bench as a hitter, defensive replacement, or base runner? Pretty much all of them.
Let’s examine a handful of the contenders who seem the best fits, and what kind of price the 29-year old Phillies right fielder might be able to fetch in return.
Next: BOURJOS BACK TO SAINT LOUIS
BOURJOS TO THE SAINT LOUIS CARDINALS
Left fielder Matt Holliday is now 36-years old, and while still dangerous at times, he is no longer the perennial all-star caliber force that once terrorized NL pitching.
The Cardinals best outfielder now is emerging 25-year old right fielder Stephen Piscotty, so there is certainly no need for an exact replacement at that position.
But in center field, the Cards are currently employing the strong defense but little offense of Randal Grichuk. The soon-to-be 25-year old is hitting just .227 with a .288 on-base percentage, albeit with a dozen home runs.
The depth outfielders right now are Kolten Wong and Tommy Pham. The Cardinals also have Brandon Moss, who has played mostly 1st base, on the DL with an ankle sprain.
Saint Louis would know exactly what it is getting in Bourjos, which could be a good or bad thing. After all, they did allow him to go to the Phillies in that waiver move.
However, they have to know that he has value. He would seem to be a good fit for this kind of team, which values speed and defense. If his hot offensive streak extends, he could even supplant Grichuk eventually, or take over in left if injury befalls Holliday.
They are not going to pay a lot to re-acquire Bourjos’ services, but then no one is likely to be paying a lot. But how about someone like soon-to-be 25-year old righty Trey Nielsen? The former 3rd baseman and TJ surgery survivor has a shot to be a big league bullpen piece, maybe as soon as 2017.
Next: BOURJOS JOINS THE TRIBE
BOURJOS TO THE CLEVELAND INDIANS
How the Tribe are in first place in the AL Central Division by six games in the loss column is a minor miracle when you consider that their outfield consists of Jose Ramirez, Rajai Davis, and Lonnie Chisenhall, with a bit of Tyler Naquin tossed into the mix.
But while none of them screams “superstar”, and certainly none is a big home run threat, they are all athletic, and all perform well as all-around baseball players. The group as a whole is better than the sum of their parts.
However, that is what being a legitimate contender who wants to actually nail down a playoff berth, maybe even a division crown, looks to do at this time of the year – improve those parts.
Bourjos would seem to fit right in to this type of group. He is fast, athletic, and could cover any of the three outfield spots if needed. To me, this one may be a perfect fit for the player, and Terry Francona‘s team could certainly use his experience.
Now, keep in mind, a couple of days ago when reviewing the trade possibilities for Carlos Ruiz, I named the Indians as one of the best possible destinations. This would be an excellent place to peddle both Chooch and Bourjos, and giving up both might land a Top 15 prospect.
But for now, we’re looking at it as a solo deal. So I think a player such as 22-year old lefty Luis Lugo could work for both sides to get it done. Lugo is a big, durable southpaw who could become a big league back-end starter or a nice lefty reliever, something always in demand.
Next: BOURJOS TO THE BOSOX
BOURJOS TO THE BOSTON RED SOX
The Red Sox have 2/3 of the best outfield in baseball with center fielder Jackie Bradley Jr, an AL All-Star who is the game’s premier defender at the position, and right fielder Mookie Betts, who is one of the top all-around young talents in the game today.
That leaves left field, and, well, it leaves left field. Now usually on a team such as this, it would be a perfect spot for a legitimate home run slugger who could hit in the middle of the order. Someone for whom playing caroms off the Green Monster might take some of the defensive pressure off their game.
However, those are in short supply. The Red Sox have tried catcher Blake Swihart out there, but the 24-year old who has spent much of the last couple months on the DL should really be considered their catcher of the future still.
Veteran Chris Young is on the DL with a hamstring issue, which can also be a risky issue when he eventually gets back, and that probably won’t be until August. Versatile Brock Holt is around, and Bryce Brentz was called up from the minor leagues.
But for the right price, a more experienced, speedy, versatile player such as Bourjos would look really good in that Red Sox uniform. I would bet that a price to get it done might be something like big righty Ty Buttrey, a 2012 draftee who has started, but could end up more valuable and consistent as a power arm out of the pen.
Next: BOURJOS WEST TO HOLLYWOOD
BOURJOS TO THE LOS ANGELES DODGERS
The Dodgers are in control of the top NL Wildcard slot, but are in a real battle for one of those berths, with a half-dozen clubs currently battling within less than a handful of games of one another.
LA also trails their bitter rivals, the San Francisco Giants, by a half-dozen games in the NL West Division race. So that fight is still within range of winning, thus avoiding a one-game playoff, where the Pittsburgh Pirates can tell you, anything can happen.
The Dodgers starting outfield right now consists of talented but enigmatic Yasiel Puig in right, mercurial rookie call-up Andrew Toles in center, and converted infielder Howie Kendrick in left, with Scott Van Slyke around as a backup.
Much of that is due to injuries, as the Dodgers have both 24-year old Joc Pederson and veteran Andre Ethier on the DL at the same time. Pederson is due to return tonight, and if he is 100%, that is a huge boost.
Ethier has a small fracture in his leg, and it is hoped that he can return at some point in August. The Dodgers have also been linked to a possible bigger deal for someone like Jay Bruce of the Reds.
If LA does a Bruce deal, they would then start Pederson, Puig, and Bruce across their outfield. However, even with that starting combo, a player such as Bourjos, one who could bring that veteran, speedy, talented, versatile mix would be a huge bonus for depth and bench purposes.
That, and I think Bourjos would look great in one of those shiny white Dodgers home unis. If the Dodgers would send a lower Top 30 prospect such as 24-year old righty Brock Stewart, it could prove a deal beneficial for both sides.
An older prospect, Stewart could be worked at AA Reading or AAA Lehigh Valley as a starter for now, and if it doesn’t work out, he could always be tried in a relief role down the road.