The Angels have agreed to a minor-league deal with veteran outfielder Michael Bourn, according to SB Nation’s Chris Cotillo (Twitter link). He had recently opted out of his deal with the Orioles.
Los Angeles is building up its outfield depth in the wake of injuries to Mike Trout and Cameron Maybin, each of whom are on the DL. Bourn will head to Triple-A Salt Lake City, which just lost Eric Young Jr. and Shane Robinson to the MLB roster.
Bourn, 34, finished his 2016 season on a strong note in a productive 24-game run with the Orioles. But he had struggled earlier in the year with the Diamondbacks and hasn’t been a productive regular since 2013.
Still, it seems reasonable to hope that the fleet-footed veteran could function as a useful bench or platoon player. He was getting on base at an excellent .373 clip through 51 plate appearances at Triple-A in the Baltimore organization, though he was lagging in batting average (.220) and power (.317 slugging percentage).
Eppler doing the best job he can with limited assets. Let’s face it… the angels are the Brooklyn nets of baseball in that regard
Angels are only 11th in the Majors in payroll. Giants have a higher payroll and are stuck in the cellar.
But they have more talent and have at least like 1 good prospect.
the nets don’t have the best player in the sport
I’ve been waiting like 3 years for the Angels to get this guy. Never was going to happen under Jerry Dipoto. Hope it’s not too late. They must be concerned about Maybin’s injury. We expected it though. Guy rarely reaches 100 games in a season.
It’s a bummer to imagine what Maybin’s career might have looked like if he could have just stayed healthy. But health is a skill and he just doesn’t have it.
Good to see Eppler try to get players in the wake of all the injuries. But I don’t see much of a difference between eric young, ben revere, and bourne. Seem like the same player
you’re right, they all pretty much are the same player. same skill sets.
Eppler is making the effort to get the Angels back to what made them so successful 10 years ago. Lots of speed on the bases, good defense, and deep bullpen.
It’s old washed up speed though. Cameron Maybin, Eric Young and Michael Bourn were fast 7-8 years ago. None of them will ever steal more than 25 bags in a season ever again.
Cameron just turned 30 and was on a pace to steal 40 bases this year.
And yet the Angels were leading the AL in stolen bases heading into tonight…
You’re right. I want them to return to what made them successful. I like seeing them run more (Trout’s injury notwithstanding). The bullpen has been a pleasant surprise despite the injuries. The defense hasn’t consistently looked as good as I hoped
What happens when trout comes back though?
Uh… Is that even a real question lol? What happens when trout comes back? Bourn goes back to being unemployed because the best player on this planet will be heathy and ready to go. Cmon now man.
You mean they wont send Trout to AAA? Lol
Waiting 3 years foe the Angels to get Bourn and now they are going back to what made them successful 10 years ago. Are you high? Bourn is garbage and has been for quite some time. Picking trash off the trash heep is not going back to what took them to the World Series 10 years ago. Its called getting what you can to fill a hole when your farm is crap. You need to get your head out of the Big A’s halo Lil Buddy.
Bourn is trash. And it’s been 15 years since the Angels have been to the World Series. Feels like forever ago, makes me miss seeing David Eckstien looking like a toddler out there with his over size batting gloves and how he chokes up on the bat, freaking epic.
David Eckstein was considered trash when the Angels picked him up. Same with several other players who were that ’02 team. But they got a lot of good years out of a lot of players at the same time, and that’s often what it takes regardless of how a team is built. Look at the Cubs. Championship last season, and with almost the same team on the field this season they e struggled to stay over .500.
Angels are tops in the AL in stolen bases. That’s part of the formula that made them successful 10 years ago. That’s what Eppler has been trying to do. That’s the point. And you need to go back and look at some of the World Series teams in recent years. The 2015 Royals had several players dug out of the dumpster who gave them enough production to get that far. Those Giants teams were full of scrappy ball players who would normally only cost maybe a one or two year contract at the most. The teams that win are usually the teams that get the most production from supporting players, and it doesn’t matter who or where it comes from.
^ This
I enjoy reading Ryan’s comments. Sound positions with good reasoning. Thank you and keep it up!
Does anyone know anything about Angels minor league players 3B Kaleb Cowart and OF Bo Way? To me, they both look like they’re ready to be given a shot at MLB level.
The new philosophy reminds me of the mid-1970’s California Angels days when Harry Dalton and Dick Williams were pursuing a goal of building a team like the A’s with pitching (Nolan Ryan, Frank Tanana, Bill Singer, Ed Figueroa, defense, SS Orlando Ramiriez, 3B Dave Chalk; and speed, speed and more speed – CF Mickey Rivers, LF Dave Collins, RF Morris Nettles, 2B Jerry Remy and DH Tommy Harper, Then they changed their plan just as it was coming together.