On Sunday, the Cleveland Indians made a surprise signing, inking OF Michael Bourn to a four year, $48M contract. Bourn was largely considered baseball’s third-best free agent for the 2012 offseason. However, in an offseason ripe with center-field options, Bourn and agent Scott Boras likely misplayed the market, waiting too long for Bourne’s market to develop, while interested teams moved on to other OF options. As a result, Bourn was left to scan for available opportunities to sign and opted for the lowly Cleveland Indians just two weeks before spring training begins.
Bourn played with the Atlanta Braves through 2012, posting a career-best season with a .348 OBP, .391 SLG. He’s a classic top-of-the-order player in the mold of Richey Henderson or Kenny Lofton. What Bourn lacks in power (career high 9 HRs in 2012), he makes up for in his ability to get on base (career .339 OBP), steal bases (276 career SBs) and improve the defence around him (3.0 defensive WAR in 2012, 3rd best in baseaball).
He’ll start 2013 with the Indians as their starting CF and lead off for a lineup ripe with high-upside up-the-middle talent (C Carlos Santana, 2B Jason Kipnis and SS Asdrubal Cabrera). The deal covers his years 30-34 seasons and he can be expected to deliver 4-6 WAR in the early years of the deal. The open question with speed-defence players with Bourn’s profile, is how they age and perform as they reach their mid-30s. The contract includes a vesting fifth-year option that vests if Bourn accumulates 550 ABs in 2016.
The move comes as a surprise and a steal for the Cleveland Indians organization. The Indians finished 2012 with 90+ losses and abymsmal pitching. With a formidable Detroit Tigers team in the AL Central, 2013 was not seen as a contention year for the Indians (stuck in a perpetual rebuilding mode for five years). However, the team has made astute trades and signings this offseason, acquiring talented pitcher Trevor Bauer and OF Drew Stubbs in return for one year of free agent to-be Shin-Soo Choo. They signed SP Brett Myers to fortify the back end of their rotation.
Further, they acquired a middle-of-the-order power bat in Nick Swisher to play alongside Bourn (in RF). As the Indians were one of baseball’s ten worst teams in 2012, they were free to sign qualified free agents this offseason without forfeiting their first round amateur draft pick this spring. As a result, the signings of Swisher and Bourn (both to team-friendly deals) cost even less than it would have for other competing clubs. The Indians can now look forward to 2013, with a renewed lineup, improved defence and new pitchers that will surely improve what was baseball’s worst 2012 starting rotation. With an outfield of Bourn and Swisher, the Indians have created enviable outfield speed and power, while creating an outfield surplus (as either Michael Brantley or Stubbs will be pushed to a 4th outfielder position).
The Indians may not be on par with the Tigers, but they’re well positioned to challenge the Royals and White Sox for AL Central’s 2nd place. With a few breaks, the club could content for an AL Wild Card spot in 2013.