Covering the Corner - Cleveland Indians Sign Michael BournCleveland Baseball: A team that's accomplished some things.https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/52871/Covering_The_Corner_Favicon-ICO..png2013-02-15T14:30:03-05:00http://www.coveringthecorner.com/rss/stream/37426592013-02-15T14:30:03-05:002013-02-15T14:30:03-05:00Michael Bourn Press Conference Open Thread
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<figcaption>Al Bello</figcaption>
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<p>Discuss the 3 PM Eastern Bourn press conference here. </p> <p><b>What: </b>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.letsgotribe.com/">Indians</a> will formally announce the signing of <span>Michael Bourn</span> to a four year contract.</p>
<p><b>Where: </b>Goodyear, Arizona</p>
<p><b>When: </b>3 PM Eastern Time</p>
<p>You can access live audio on WTAM <a href="http://www.wtam.com/main.html">here</a>, or bring them up on mobile via iHeartRadio. It may also be shown live on STO or perhaps one of the local TV stations.</p>
https://www.coveringthecorner.com/2013/2/15/3991484/michael-bourn-press-conference-open-threadRyan2013-02-12T21:37:08-05:002013-02-12T21:37:08-05:00Francona Shifts the Defense to Make Room for Bourn
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<figcaption>Norm Hall</figcaption>
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<p>We've been speculating as to how the Indians will fill out their defensive lineup with the addition of Michael Bourn. It looks like Terry Francona has already come up with a plan. </p> <p><a href="http://cleveland.indians.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130212&content_id=41572546&vkey=news_cle&c_id=cle">From Jordan Bastian</a>:</p>
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<p>Adding Bourn will have a ripple effect on the alignment of Cleveland's defense.</p>
<p>On Tuesday, Francona met with Swisher, <span>Mark Reynolds</span>, Michael Brantley and <span>Drew Stubbs</span> to discuss the situation. Swisher will shift from right field to first base, Reynolds will assume the primary designated hitter duties and play first on a part-time basis, Brantley (Cleveland's center fielder last year) will move to left field and Stubbs (a center fielder by trade) will play right.</p>
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<p>This obviously maximizes the Tribe's defense, while also leaving room for some late-inning substitutions. I'll take the players one by one:</p>
<p><b><span>Michael Brantley</span>, LF. </b>As hard as it may be to believe, he probably won't see much time in center field at all this season, Drew Stubbs will likely be Bourn's primary backup in center. Brantley may sit occasionally against a left-handed pitcher, but that would mainly be just the right situation for him to get a day off.</p>
<p><b><span>Michael Bourn</span>, CF. </b>His defense in center field is a very large part of his value, so he'll be in center exclusively. He'll only be out of the lineup when he needs a day off.</p>
<p><b>Drew Stubbs, RF/LF/CF. </b>I think it's possible to make Stubbs into a valuable player, but his playing time will need to be managed right. He under no circumstances should ever be out of the lineup against a left-handed pitcher (career .276/.344/.476) and his at-bats against right-handers (.228/.301/.355) should be limited. But I don't think he should be strictly platooned, though; he's still a valuable defender and base runner.</p>
<p><b><span>Nick Swisher</span>, 1B/RF. </b>Swisher, when he's played first base, has been a decent to good defender there, and you'd rather him be available to move back to right field in late game situations without losing the DH. Depending on who they get to spell Stubbs against some right-handers, he'll either shift back and forth between first base and the outfield, or be a full-time first baseman.</p>
<p><b>Mark Reynolds, DH/1B/3B. </b>Reynolds doesn't have a huge platoon split, but he hits left-handers better than right-handers, hence my leaving open the possibility that he can play some third base. <span>Mike Aviles</span> should get the lion's share of the backup duties at third, but if the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.letsgotribe.com/">Indians</a> only carry one true backup infielder, he might need to play there from time to time. But Reynolds is going to be in the lineup for his bat, not his defense, so he should spend most of his time at DH.</p>
<p>There's two other pieces to this puzzle that will have to be figured out. Mike Aviles and <span>Lou Marson</span> already have bench spots locked up, but the other two positions are wide open. I think Bourn's signing makes <span>Ezequiel Carrera</span> expendable, as the Indians are certainly not lacking for center fielders or speed. Between the starting nine and the accounted for bench spots, the Indians have both a starter and a primary backup set at all eight positions, so the Indians can use those open spots for a limited role player (<span>Jason Giambi</span>, for instance) or to stow Chris McGuiness, the Rule 5 selection on the roster. I actually think McGuiness fits fairly well on this roster as an extra first baseman (if Drew Stubbs gets pinch-hit for late in a game, moving Swisher to right) or getting some starts for Stubbs against some right-handed pitching. But there will time enough over the next five or six weeks to break the NRI crop down.</p>
<p>Here's what the roster looks like now (or at least, when the Bourn signing becomes official):</p>
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<p><a href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2158815/Feb_12_2013.JPG" target="_blank"><img alt="Feb_12_2013_medium" class="photo" src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2158815/Feb_12_2013_medium.JPG"></a> <br id="1360723522960"></p>
https://www.coveringthecorner.com/2013/2/12/3982610/cleveland-indians-outfield-defense-bourn-swisher-brantley-stubbs-reynoldsRyan2013-02-12T08:35:02-05:002013-02-12T08:35:02-05:00Bourn Signing Reaction (News and Notes 2/12)
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<figcaption>Your new centerfielder, Michael Bourn | Bob Levey</figcaption>
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<p>The baseball world reacts to the Michael Bourn signing, Reds avoid arbitration with LGFT Choo, and MLB's first female major league scout has died at age 100.</p> <p>The Michael Bourn signing from many angles:</p>
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<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/blog/jon-heyman/21688116/indian-winter-in-big-surprise-cleveland-steals-bourn-from-mets">Indian winter: In big surprise, Cleveland steals Bourn from Mets - CBSSports.com</a> <span style="line-height: 9px;">| </span>The Indians made themselves even more interesting with yet another big deal, as the Mets could muster no more than a conditional offer.</p>
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<p><a target="_blank" href="http://cleveland.indians.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130211&content_id=41546894&vkey=news_cle&c_id=cle">Michael Bourn gets four-year, $48 million contract from busy Indians | indians.com: News</a> | Michael Bourn is neither New York- nor Chicago-bound and instead agreed to a four-year, $48 million deal with the Indians, a source confirmed to MLB.com on Monday.</p>
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<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.cleveland.com/tribe/index.ssf/2013/02/cleveland_indians_sign_free_ag_1.html">Cleveland Indians reach agreement with free agent Michael Bourn on a four-year, $48 million deal | cleveland.com</a> |<br>The Indians made their second big free-agent acquisition of the winter by reaching a $48 million deal with outfielder Michael Bourn.</p>
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<p><a target="_blank" href="http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/mets/post/_/id/60733/of-becomes-clearer-with-bourn-indians-pact">Source: Bourn, Mets had deal structure - Mets Blog - ESPN New York</a> | The Mets offered Michael Bourn a near-identical contract to the four-year, $48 million deal to which he has agreed with the Cleveland Indians.</p>
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<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/mets/mets-left-bourn-free-free-agent-signs-tribe-article-1.1261628">NY Mets fall short in landing free agent outfielder Michael Bourn as he signs with Cleveland Indians - NY Daily News</a> | Thirty-year-old All-Star Michael Bourn signed a four-year $48 million contract with the Cleveland Indians Monday, leaving the Mets with question marks in their outfield.</p>
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<p><a target="_blank" href="http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/michael-bourn-deal-makes-cleveland-indians-relevant-again-terry-francona-nick-swisher-drew-stubbs-michael-brantley-021113">Addition of Michael Bourn — along with newcomers Nick Swisher and manager Terry Francona — is more evidence Cleveland Indians will matter in 2013 - MLB News | FOX Sports on MSN</a> | Monday's addition of Michael Bourn — to along with earlier additions Nick Swisher and manager Terry Francona — is more evidence the Cleveland Indians will matter in 2013, says FOXSports.coms Ken Rosenthal. </p>
<p>And a little more about the new field boss: <a target="_blank" href="http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/blog/scott-miller/21687764/terry-francona-on-wearing-indians-uniform-as-proud-as-ive-ever-been">Terry Francona on wearing Indians uniform: As proud as I've ever been - CBSSports.com</a> : Just how good is Terry Francona feeling these days? Good enough to start his day before just about anyone else in Goodyear, Ariz.</p>
<p>Around the league: </p>
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<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/blog/mlb-rumors/21687776/reds-shinsoo-choo-avoid-arbitration-with-oneyear-contract">Reds, Shin-Soo Choo avoid arbitration with one-year contract - CBSSports.com</a> | The Reds have signed outfielder Shin-Soo Choo to a one-year, $7.375 million contract, avoiding arbitration.</p>
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<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/blog/eye-on-baseball/21687467/shinsoo-choo-doesnt-sound-confident-in-position-change">Shin-Soo Choo doesn't sound confident in position change - CBSSports.com</a> | For now, Choo doesn't sound very confident about the move. </p>
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<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/trailblazing-female-baseball-scout-dies-100-article-1.1261214">Edith Houghton, trailblazing female baseball scout for Philadelphia Phillies, dies at 100 - NY Daily News</a><br>Edith Houghton, one of the first female scouts in Major League Baseball, has died at the age of 100. After a playing career that included a stint with the Philadelphia Bobbies, Houghton worked for the Philadelphia Phillies from 1946-52, and also had a decorated career in the military. </p>
https://www.coveringthecorner.com/2013/2/12/3979756/bourn-signing-reaction-news-and-notes-2-12woodsmeister2013-02-12T06:32:50-05:002013-02-12T06:32:50-05:00With Bourn in Hand, Lohse Makes Sense for Indians
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<figcaption>Jim McIsaac</figcaption>
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<p>As Winston Churchill said, "Give us the tools and we will FINISH the job!"</p> <p>I will admit that I did not see the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.letsgotribe.com/">Indians</a> ponying up for <span>Michael Bourn</span> this offseason. Chris Antonetti certainly kept things quiet until <a href="http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/02/05/the-indians-could-be-interested-in-michael-bourn/">word leaked out</a> about a week ago that his team might be a possibility. That same stealthy approach is typical of Antonetti's offseason: quietly, the Indians have done a great job of upgrading a 94-loss team, bringing veterans like Bourn, <span>Nick Swisher</span>, and the morally-challenged <span>Brett Myers</span>, while trading for an incredibly talented young starter who is major-league ready in Trevor Bauer. Now that the team has committed the money to come this far, it's time to finish the job by taking the last remaining chess-piece on the free-agent board: <span>Kyle Lohse</span>, come to papa.</p>
<p>According to Baseball Prospectus's <a href="http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=19602">PECOTA projection system</a>, released yesterday, the pre-Bourn Indians had jumped past the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.southsidesox.com/">White Sox</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.royalsreview.com/">Royals</a> and are projected to win roughly half of their games in 2013. That's something along the lines of a 15-win jump, a huge improvement for one offseason. Now, Cleveland still has a way to go to catch the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.blessyouboys.com/">Tigers</a>, who are projected to win 92 games, but even if they can't make up for that gap through some combination of good fortune and good play, they're much closer to the second wild card that MLB added last year. Indeed, if we project the second wild card winners back to 1996, the first 162-game season with the current three-division format, we see that the average "fifth seed" won an average (and also a median) of 89 games, although teams would have won the spot with as few as 84 (the 1997 Anaheim <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.halosheaven.com/">Angels</a>).</p>
<p>As you are well aware, the biggest remaining obstacle between Cleveland and a postseason berth is their suspect pitching. Myers and Bauer potentially help a great deal, but the Indians boasted the worst run prevention in the American League last year. On the one hand, the acquisition of Bourn creates both the possibility of having the best outfield defense in the American League (with three legitimate center fielders patrolling the grounds, at the very least, late in games) and keeping <span>Mark Reynolds</span> off the field as often as possible, thereby saving a great many runs. On the other, they're still slated to give 60-70 starts to the ineffective duo of <span>Ubaldo Jimenez</span> and <span>Justin Masterson</span>, who combined to post a 6.06 ERA in 166.1 innings after the All Star Break last year. Given that there's still one pricey, and potentially useful pitcher out on the market, that could still change.</p>
<p>Look: You and I both know that Kyle Lohse isn't a great option. He's benefited greatly from his time around Dave Duncan and the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.vivaelbirdos.com/">Cardinals</a>, and there is no guarantee he'll bring that same magic with him to wherever he ends up. He's going to be 34 years old, and he doesn't strike batters out at an above-average rate. Still, while Lohse may not be the ace that Terry Francona needs to front his rotation, he's still a pitcher who averaged around three wins above replacement over the last two seasons. There comes a time where even a Kyle Lohse, like a Michael Bourn, becomes an undervalued commodity and a palatable option, especially for a club that is looking to sneak into the postseason.</p>
<p>We're fast approaching that time with Lohse, especially considering that the one thing holding up a Lohse deal, the draft pick compensation, isn't a significant impediment for Cleveland. After all, not only is Cleveland's first round pick protected at number four overall, but its second pick is already gone thanks to the Nick Swisher signing. Indeed, the only thing the club would lose is their third round pick (which as of now is the 79th overall selection).</p>
<p>I understand being skittish about spending that kind of money on a flawed pitcher, but Larry Dolan has already spent $114 million this offseason and clearly has given his front office the freedom to try and win now. In response, Antonetti has put his club in position to be this year's <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.camdenchat.com/">Orioles</a>. With so much money already invested, nothing else available on the market, and with a gaping hole in their rotation, it makes too much sense not for Cleveland to push all its chips into the center of the table and take itself seriously in 2013 with this one last move.</p>
<p><i>Michael Bates is one of SBN's </i><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mlb-designated-columnists"><i>Designated Columnists</i></a><i> and one of the minds behind </i><a href="http://www.platoonadvantage.com/"><i>The Platoon Advantage</i></a><i>. Follow him at </i><a href="https://twitter.com/commnman"><i>@commnman</i></a><i> and the Designated Columnists at <a href="https://twitter.com/SBNMLBDCers">@SBNMLBDCers</a>.</i></p>
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https://www.coveringthecorner.com/2013/2/12/3979518/michael-bourn-kyle-lohse-free-agents-indiansMike Bates2013-02-11T23:02:02-05:002013-02-11T23:02:02-05:00How Mark Appel Helped the Indians Land Bourn
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<figcaption>Melina Vastola-US PRESSWIRE</figcaption>
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<p>No, not the Captain Morgan kind, the baseball kind. </p> <p>As mentioned several places in the main thread, the 2013 draft played a very large part in the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.letsgotribe.com/">Indians</a> being able to land <span>Michael Bourn</span>.</p>
<p>When the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bucsdugout.com/">Pittsburgh Pirates</a> <a href="http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2013-02-07/sports/36968079_1_mark-appel-college-baseball-cardinal-coach-mark-marquess">didn't sign their 2012 first-round selection</a>, the newly-signed CBA allowed them a compensatory pick at the exact same spot in the 2013 draft. As they picked Mark Appel eighth in the 2012 Draft, they received the eighth selection in the 2013 draft in addition to their regular selection. That bumped everyone below them down a slot, including the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.amazinavenue.com/">New York Mets</a>, who instead of picking 10th this June will pick 11th.</p>
<p>That one pick drop may not seem like much, but thanks to another part of the CBA, it made all the difference in the world. Under the new CBA, draft pick compensation was retained but tightened up considerably. Not as many players would qualify for compensation (the club would have to offer a sizable one-year contract equal to the average of the top 125 salaries), and the player must have played the entire previous season with a club for that club to get a compensatory pick. For example, if a team signs a player that received a qualifying offer, that club would forfeit their first round selection, and the club that lost the player would get a compensatory selection at the end of the first round.</p>
<p>That is, unless the signing club had a first round selection in the first ten picks in the first round. The Indians, who pick fifth in June, didn't have to give up their first round pick when they signed <span>Nick Swisher</span> (who received a qualifying offer from the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.pinstripealley.com/">Yankees</a>); instead, because their first round pick was protected, they only had to give up a second round pick.</p>
<p>Well, if the Pirates had signed Mark Appel, the New York Mets would have been in the same boat, as their tenth overall pick would have been protected. But because the Pirates didn't sign Appel, the Mets dropped down eleventh in draft order, meaning that they would have to give their pick if they signed Bourn. Over the last couple weeks, the Mets have been <a href="http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/new-york-mets-michael-bourn-free-agency-draft-pick-compensation-cubs-indians-rangers-mariners-021113">trying to get a ruling</a> from MLB on whether their pick would be protected or not, but when Commisioner Selig told the Mets that it would be several weeks until a ruling would be issued, Bourn decided he could wait no longer, taking the Indians' four-year deal over a similar one offered by the Mets.</p>
<p>The Indians by signing Bourn will give up their Competitive Balance pick (69th overall) that the Indians received in the a lottery. So even after signing both Swisher and Bourn, they have selections in the first and third rounds. In other words, because the Indians were so bad, they had a distinct advantage in the free agent market because their first round selection was safe. The Mets, however, <a href="http://newyork.newsday.com/sports/mets-lose-out-on-michael-bourn-who-agrees-to-four-year-deal-with-indians-1.4625446">weren't quite bad enough</a> to be able to sign a major free agent with losing their pick thanks to the Pirates and Mark Appel.</p>
https://www.coveringthecorner.com/cleveland_indians_2012_2013_offseason/2013/2/11/3978936/pirates-and-mark-appel-help-indians-land-bournRyan2013-02-11T21:35:06-05:002013-02-11T21:35:06-05:00First Reaction: Indians Sign Bourn?! Wha?!
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<figcaption>Bob Levey</figcaption>
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<p>Apologies in advance for the stream-of-consciousness below. </p> <p>So I was going to do some writing about the next Top 100 <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.letsgotribe.com/">Indians</a>, and was trolling the dusty Sporting News archives for 100-year-old articles on the Naps and their star catcher. I had some music on in the background, had a cup of hot tea in front of me, just took a sip, and...</p>
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<p>[Alt/Tab]</p>
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<p>PFFFFFFFFF</p>
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<p>Over the last 15 minutes, I've been simultaneous been wiping the hot tea off my monitor, furiously refreshing Twitter to see if Jon Heyman had been joking, and trying to put my thoughts in order to write something about this signing. Then I realized that Heyman is essentially Scott Boras' press agent, and that if he was saying the Indians had signed Bourn, then yeah, it was true.</p>
<p>The shocking part of it is that this kind of signing is totally unlike the Indians of recent vintage. A four-year deal for a 30-year-old outfielder? After the Indians had supposedly maxed out on their payroll after giving out the largest free agent contract in team history? My world as an Indians fan has been knocked off-kilter; there was some bizarre form of comfort in being able to predict what the Indians were going to do, and that included not signing top-tier free agents. Yeah, we'd occasionally get a <span>Kerry Wood</span> signing here, a buy-low signing there....who am I kidding, those weren't really signings that made the baseball world aware that the Indians existed, those were just signings that made the second page of the Rotoworld news, and maybe got a one-sentence response by a staff writer.</p>
<p>I might have expected this from a new front office, a group of people that had a blank slate and a free reign with which to change the franchise around. But no, the group that has been making these moves are exactly the same people that were signing <span>Casey Kotchman</span> and trading for <span>Derek Lowe</span> last year. And I'm not saying that they eschewed good free agents for Kotchman and Lowe, but that those were the moves they were almost constrained to make.</p>
<p>I could have even expected a creative trade like the one that happened with the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.redreporter.com/">Reds</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.azsnakepit.com/">Diamondbacks</a>; it's part of the life of a medium-market baseball team that their good players get traded before they become agents, and also that receive prospects back in return. In this case, the Indians got as much return as they possibly could for Choo, surpassing all but the most optimistic of fans. But that move in and of itself was just a variation on the same theme of Indians baseball the last few years.</p>
<p>But then the Indians signed <span>Nick Swisher</span>, a player more successful and wealthy clubs wanted. And they hired Terry Francona, who just about every other Major League club would love to have. Francona was obviously an unexpected signing, but made sense in retrospect given his history with the current front office. And a lot of us thought that the Indians theoretically could sign Swisher, as they had the payroll to do so.</p>
<p>But this? The Indians for the last couple weeks have been filling out their roster with NRIs. High-profile NRIs, but NRIs all the same. Pitchers and catchers reported yesterday, and the team seemed content to go into the season with the roster they had. <span>Drew Stubbs</span> would be a decent defender, and well, let's hope he's not an offensive black hole. The Indians didn't have a DH, but well, they can keep their key players healthy by rotating them in and out of the lineup. The Indians have dealt with holes before, even ones that they knew going in they'd have to deal with. This wasn't a club one player away from a World Series, this was a club trying to regain their competitiveness after an historically awful second half. Sure, <span>Michael Bourn</span> was out there; he did fit into the lineup in center field, and would solidify the lineup, but reality said that some other club would swoop in and grab him, and besides, the Indians were maxed out on their payroll.</p>
<p>But surprise, surprise, the Indians signed a Scott Boras contract, and not a Juan Gonzalez-style one-year deal; it's a four-year deal that means Bourn and Swisher will be in the outfield through at least 2016.</p>
<p>I'm sure in a couple of hours the rational side of my brain will start to crank out reasons why I'll hate this signing three years from now, but right now my emotional side is having a ball.</p>
https://www.coveringthecorner.com/2013/2/11/3978656/first-reaction-indians-sign-bourn-whaRyan2013-02-11T20:39:39-05:002013-02-11T20:39:39-05:00Indians Sign Michael Bourn
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<figcaption>Steve Mitchell-US PRESSWIRE</figcaption>
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<p>The Indians have shocked the baseball world by signing All-Star center fielder to a multi-year deal.</p> <p> </p>
<p>In the last few days a lot of words have been written about what an eventful off-season the <a href="https://www.letsgotribe.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Indians</a> have had. Well, it just got a whole lot more eventful. <a href="https://twitter.com/JonHeymanCBS/status/301140088606294016" target="_blank">Jon Heyman is reporting</a> that the Indians have agreed to a 4-year, $48 million deal with All-Star center fielder <span>Michael Bourn</span>, with some sort of vesting option that could kick it up to 5 years, $60 million.</p>
<p>Just days after the front office reported the team was pretty close to its spending ceiling for 2013, they found enough change in the cushions to go for this (along with their minor league deal shopping trip over the weekend). <span>Nick Swisher</span> signed the largest contract in team history, and now, depending on the specifics, Bourn may have just landed the second-largest deal.</p>
<p>This move probably sends <span>Drew Stubbs</span> to the bench (perhaps he plays his way into a platoon with <span>Michael Brantley</span>) and gives the team a top-flight leadoff hitter, something it's been missing. Maybe one of those two (Brantley or Stubbs) is traded instead. Maybe Bourn, Brantley, and Stubbs ALL play, with Swisher moving to first base and Reynolds at DH most days. At this point, who knows?!</p>
<p>Let's take a look at Bourn's numbers:</p>
<p> </p>
<table class="sortable stats_table row_summable" id="batting_standard" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; font-size: 0.6875em; margin-bottom: 1em; border: 1px solid #747678; color: #000000; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;">
<thead><tr style="vertical-align: top;">
<th align="left" class="tooltip sort_default_asc show_partial_when_sorting" style="cursor: pointer; margin: 0px; padding: 3px; font-style: inherit; text-align: center; color: #aa0000; background-color: #dadcde; border: 1px solid #747678 #aaaaaa #747678 #747678;">Year</th> <th align="center" class="tooltip sort_default_asc show_partial_when_sorting" tip="Player’s age at midnight of June 30th of that year" style="cursor: pointer; margin: 0px; padding: 3px; font-style: inherit; text-align: center; color: #aa0000; background-color: #dadcde; border: 1px solid #747678 #aaaaaa;">Age</th> <th align="center" class="tooltip" tip="Games Played or Pitched" style="cursor: pointer; margin: 0px; padding: 3px; font-style: inherit; text-align: center; color: #aa0000; background-color: #dadcde; border: 1px solid #747678 #aaaaaa;">G</th> <th align="center" class="tooltip" tip="<strong>Plate Appearances</strong><br>When available, we use actual plate appearances from play-by-play game accounts<br>Otherwise estimated using AB + BB + HBP + SF + SH,<br>which excludes catcher interferences.<br>When <span class=tooltip>this color</span> click for a summary of each PA." style="cursor: pointer; margin: 0px; padding: 3px; font-style: inherit; text-align: center; color: #aa0000; background-color: #dadcde; border: 1px solid #747678 #aaaaaa;">PA</th> <th align="center" class="tooltip" tip="Runs Scored/Allowed" style="cursor: pointer; margin: 0px; padding: 3px; font-style: inherit; text-align: center; color: #aa0000; background-color: #dadcde; border: 1px solid #747678 #aaaaaa;">R</th> <th align="center" class="tooltip" tip="Hits/Hits Allowed" style="cursor: pointer; margin: 0px; padding: 3px; font-style: inherit; text-align: center; color: #aa0000; background-color: #dadcde; border: 1px solid #747678 #aaaaaa;">H</th> <th align="center" class="tooltip" tip="Doubles Hit/Allowed" style="cursor: pointer; margin: 0px; padding: 3px; font-style: inherit; text-align: center; color: #aa0000; background-color: #dadcde; border: 1px solid #747678 #aaaaaa;">2B</th> <th align="center" class="tooltip" tip="Triples Hit/Allowed" style="cursor: pointer; margin: 0px; padding: 3px; font-style: inherit; text-align: center; color: #aa0000; background-color: #dadcde; border: 1px solid #747678 #aaaaaa;">3B</th> <th align="center" class="tooltip" tip="Home Runs Hit/Allowed" style="cursor: pointer; margin: 0px; padding: 3px; font-style: inherit; text-align: center; color: #aa0000; background-color: #dadcde; border: 1px solid #747678 #aaaaaa;">HR</th> <th align="center" class="tooltip" tip="Runs Batted In" style="cursor: pointer; margin: 0px; padding: 3px; font-style: inherit; text-align: center; color: #aa0000; background-color: #dadcde; border: 1px solid #747678 #aaaaaa;">RBI</th> <th align="center" class="tooltip" tip="Stolen Bases" style="cursor: pointer; margin: 0px; padding: 3px; font-style: inherit; text-align: center; color: #aa0000; background-color: #dadcde; border: 1px solid #747678 #aaaaaa;">SB</th> <th align="center" class="tooltip" tip="Caught Stealing" style="cursor: pointer; margin: 0px; padding: 3px; font-style: inherit; text-align: center; color: #aa0000; background-color: #dadcde; border: 1px solid #747678 #aaaaaa;">CS</th> <th align="center" class="tooltip" tip="Bases on Balls/Walks" style="cursor: pointer; margin: 0px; padding: 3px; font-style: inherit; text-align: center; color: #aa0000; background-color: #dadcde; border: 1px solid #747678 #aaaaaa;">BB</th> <th align="center" class="tooltip" tip="Strikeouts" style="cursor: pointer; margin: 0px; padding: 3px; font-style: inherit; text-align: center; color: #aa0000; background-color: #dadcde; border: 1px solid #747678 #aaaaaa;">SO</th> <th align="center" class="tooltip hide_non_quals" tip="<strong>Hits/At Bats</strong><br>For recent years, leaders need 3.1 PA<br>per team game played<br>Bold indicates highest BA using current stats<br><span class=glimmer>Gold</span> means awarded title at end of year." style="cursor: pointer; margin: 0px; padding: 3px; font-style: inherit; text-align: center; color: #aa0000; background-color: #dadcde; border: 1px solid #747678 #aaaaaa;">BA</th> <th align="center" class="tooltip hide_non_quals" tip="<strong>(H + BB + HBP)/(At Bats + BB + HBP + SF)</strong><br>For recent years, leaders need 3.1 PA<br>per team game played" style="cursor: pointer; margin: 0px; padding: 3px; font-style: inherit; text-align: center; color: #aa0000; background-color: #dadcde; border: 1px solid #747678 #aaaaaa;">OBP</th> <th align="center" class="tooltip hide_non_quals" tip="<strong>Total Bases/At Bats or <br>(1B + 2*2B + 3*3B + 4*HR)/AB</strong><br>For recent years, leaders need 3.1 PA<br>per team game played" style="cursor: pointer; margin: 0px; padding: 3px; font-style: inherit; text-align: center; color: #aa0000; background-color: #dadcde; border: 1px solid #747678 #aaaaaa;">SLG</th> <th align="center" class="tooltip hide_non_quals" tip="<strong>On-Base + Slugging Percentages </strong><br>For recent years, leaders need 3.1 PA<br>per team game played" style="cursor: pointer; margin: 0px; padding: 3px; font-style: inherit; text-align: center; color: #aa0000; background-color: #dadcde; border: 1px solid #747678 #aaaaaa;">OPS</th> <th align="center" class="tooltip hide_non_quals" tip="<strong>OPS+</strong><br>100*[OBP/lg OBP + SLG/lg SLG - 1]<br>Adjusted to the player’s ballpark(s)" style="cursor: pointer; margin: 0px; padding: 3px; font-style: inherit; text-align: center; color: #aa0000; background-color: #dadcde; border: 1px solid #747678 #747678 #747678 #aaaaaa;">OPS+</th>
</tr></thead>
<tbody>
<tr class="full" id="batting_standard.2006" data-row="4" style="vertical-align: top;">
<td align="left" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important; border: 1px solid dotted dotted solid #747678 #aaaaaa #aaaaaa #747678;">2006</td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important; border: 1px solid dotted dotted #747678 #aaaaaa #aaaaaa;">23</td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important; border: 1px solid dotted dotted #747678 #aaaaaa #aaaaaa;">17</td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important; border: 1px solid dotted dotted #747678 #aaaaaa #aaaaaa;">11</td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important; border: 1px solid dotted dotted #747678 #aaaaaa #aaaaaa;">2</td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important; border: 1px solid dotted dotted #747678 #aaaaaa #aaaaaa;">1</td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important; border: 1px solid dotted dotted #747678 #aaaaaa #aaaaaa;">0</td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important; border: 1px solid dotted dotted #747678 #aaaaaa #aaaaaa;">0</td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important; border: 1px solid dotted dotted #747678 #aaaaaa #aaaaaa;">0</td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important; border: 1px solid dotted dotted #747678 #aaaaaa #aaaaaa;">0</td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important; border: 1px solid dotted dotted #747678 #aaaaaa #aaaaaa;">1</td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important; border: 1px solid dotted dotted #747678 #aaaaaa #aaaaaa;">2</td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important; border: 1px solid dotted dotted #747678 #aaaaaa #aaaaaa;">1</td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important; border: 1px solid dotted dotted #747678 #aaaaaa #aaaaaa;">3</td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important; border: 1px solid dotted dotted #747678 #aaaaaa #aaaaaa;">.125</td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important; border: 1px solid dotted dotted #747678 #aaaaaa #aaaaaa;">.222</td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important; border: 1px solid dotted dotted #747678 #aaaaaa #aaaaaa;">.125</td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important; border: 1px solid dotted dotted #747678 #aaaaaa #aaaaaa;">.347</td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important; border: 1px solid solid dotted dotted #747678 #747678 #aaaaaa #aaaaaa;">-9</td>
</tr>
<tr class="full" id="batting_standard.2007" data-row="5" style="vertical-align: top;">
<td align="left" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important; border: 1px dotted dotted dotted solid #aaaaaa #aaaaaa #aaaaaa #747678;">2007</td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; border: 1px dotted #aaaaaa; white-space: nowrap !important;">24</td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; border: 1px dotted #aaaaaa; white-space: nowrap !important;">105</td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; border: 1px dotted #aaaaaa; white-space: nowrap !important;">133</td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; border: 1px dotted #aaaaaa; white-space: nowrap !important;">29</td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; border: 1px dotted #aaaaaa; white-space: nowrap !important;">33</td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; border: 1px dotted #aaaaaa; white-space: nowrap !important;">3</td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; border: 1px dotted #aaaaaa; white-space: nowrap !important;">3</td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; border: 1px dotted #aaaaaa; white-space: nowrap !important;">1</td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; border: 1px dotted #aaaaaa; white-space: nowrap !important;">6</td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; border: 1px dotted #aaaaaa; white-space: nowrap !important;">18</td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; border: 1px dotted #aaaaaa; white-space: nowrap !important;">1</td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; border: 1px dotted #aaaaaa; white-space: nowrap !important;">13</td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; border: 1px dotted #aaaaaa; white-space: nowrap !important;">21</td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; border: 1px dotted #aaaaaa; white-space: nowrap !important;">.277</td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; border: 1px dotted #aaaaaa; white-space: nowrap !important;">.348</td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; border: 1px dotted #aaaaaa; white-space: nowrap !important;">.378</td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; border: 1px dotted #aaaaaa; white-space: nowrap !important;">.727</td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important; border: 1px dotted solid dotted dotted #aaaaaa #747678 #aaaaaa #aaaaaa;">86</td>
</tr>
<tr class="full" id="batting_standard.2008" data-row="6" style="vertical-align: top;">
<td align="left" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important; border: 1px dotted dotted dotted solid #aaaaaa #aaaaaa #aaaaaa #747678;">2008</td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; border: 1px dotted #aaaaaa; white-space: nowrap !important;">25</td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; border: 1px dotted #aaaaaa; white-space: nowrap !important;">138</td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; border: 1px dotted #aaaaaa; white-space: nowrap !important;">514</td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; border: 1px dotted #aaaaaa; white-space: nowrap !important;">57</td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; border: 1px dotted #aaaaaa; white-space: nowrap !important;">107</td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; border: 1px dotted #aaaaaa; white-space: nowrap !important;">10</td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; border: 1px dotted #aaaaaa; white-space: nowrap !important;">4</td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; border: 1px dotted #aaaaaa; white-space: nowrap !important;">5</td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; border: 1px dotted #aaaaaa; white-space: nowrap !important;">29</td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; border: 1px dotted #aaaaaa; white-space: nowrap !important;">41</td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; border: 1px dotted #aaaaaa; white-space: nowrap !important;">10</td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; border: 1px dotted #aaaaaa; white-space: nowrap !important;">37</td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; border: 1px dotted #aaaaaa; white-space: nowrap !important;">111</td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; border: 1px dotted #aaaaaa; white-space: nowrap !important;">.229</td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; border: 1px dotted #aaaaaa; white-space: nowrap !important;">.288</td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; border: 1px dotted #aaaaaa; white-space: nowrap !important;">.300</td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; border: 1px dotted #aaaaaa; white-space: nowrap !important;">.588</td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important; border: 1px dotted solid dotted dotted #aaaaaa #747678 #aaaaaa #aaaaaa;">57</td>
</tr>
<tr class="full" id="batting_standard.2009" data-row="7" style="vertical-align: top;">
<td align="left" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important; border: 1px dotted dotted dotted solid #aaaaaa #aaaaaa #aaaaaa #747678;">2009</td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; border: 1px dotted #aaaaaa; white-space: nowrap !important;">26</td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; border: 1px dotted #aaaaaa; white-space: nowrap !important;">157</td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; border: 1px dotted #aaaaaa; white-space: nowrap !important;">678</td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; border: 1px dotted #aaaaaa; white-space: nowrap !important;">97</td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; border: 1px dotted #aaaaaa; white-space: nowrap !important;">173</td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; border: 1px dotted #aaaaaa; white-space: nowrap !important;">27</td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; border: 1px dotted #aaaaaa; white-space: nowrap !important;">12</td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; border: 1px dotted #aaaaaa; white-space: nowrap !important;">3</td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; border: 1px dotted #aaaaaa; white-space: nowrap !important;">35</td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; border: 1px dotted #aaaaaa; white-space: nowrap !important;"><strong style="font-style: inherit; vertical-align: inherit;">61</strong></td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; border: 1px dotted #aaaaaa; white-space: nowrap !important;">12</td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; border: 1px dotted #aaaaaa; white-space: nowrap !important;">63</td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; border: 1px dotted #aaaaaa; white-space: nowrap !important;">140</td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; border: 1px dotted #aaaaaa; white-space: nowrap !important;">.285</td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; border: 1px dotted #aaaaaa; white-space: nowrap !important;">.354</td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; border: 1px dotted #aaaaaa; white-space: nowrap !important;">.384</td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; border: 1px dotted #aaaaaa; white-space: nowrap !important;">.738</td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important; border: 1px dotted solid dotted dotted #aaaaaa #747678 #aaaaaa #aaaaaa;">97</td>
</tr>
<tr class="full" id="batting_standard.2010" data-row="8" style="vertical-align: top;">
<td align="left" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important; border: 1px dotted dotted dotted solid #aaaaaa #aaaaaa #aaaaaa #747678;">2010</td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; border: 1px dotted #aaaaaa; white-space: nowrap !important;">27</td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; border: 1px dotted #aaaaaa; white-space: nowrap !important;">141</td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; border: 1px dotted #aaaaaa; white-space: nowrap !important;">605</td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; border: 1px dotted #aaaaaa; white-space: nowrap !important;">84</td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; border: 1px dotted #aaaaaa; white-space: nowrap !important;">142</td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; border: 1px dotted #aaaaaa; white-space: nowrap !important;">25</td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; border: 1px dotted #aaaaaa; white-space: nowrap !important;">6</td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; border: 1px dotted #aaaaaa; white-space: nowrap !important;">2</td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; border: 1px dotted #aaaaaa; white-space: nowrap !important;">38</td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; border: 1px dotted #aaaaaa; white-space: nowrap !important;"><strong style="font-style: inherit; vertical-align: inherit;">52</strong></td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; border: 1px dotted #aaaaaa; white-space: nowrap !important;">12</td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; border: 1px dotted #aaaaaa; white-space: nowrap !important;">59</td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; border: 1px dotted #aaaaaa; white-space: nowrap !important;">109</td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; border: 1px dotted #aaaaaa; white-space: nowrap !important;">.265</td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; border: 1px dotted #aaaaaa; white-space: nowrap !important;">.341</td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; border: 1px dotted #aaaaaa; white-space: nowrap !important;">.346</td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; border: 1px dotted #aaaaaa; white-space: nowrap !important;">.686</td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important; border: 1px dotted solid dotted dotted #aaaaaa #747678 #aaaaaa #aaaaaa;">89</td>
</tr>
<tr class="full" id="batting_standard.2011" data-row="9" style="vertical-align: top;">
<td align="left" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important; border: 1px dotted dotted dotted solid #aaaaaa #aaaaaa #aaaaaa #747678;">2011</td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; border: 1px dotted #aaaaaa; white-space: nowrap !important;">28</td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; border: 1px dotted #aaaaaa; white-space: nowrap !important;">158</td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; border: 1px dotted #aaaaaa; white-space: nowrap !important;"><strong style="font-style: inherit; vertical-align: inherit;">722</strong></td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; border: 1px dotted #aaaaaa; white-space: nowrap !important;">94</td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; border: 1px dotted #aaaaaa; white-space: nowrap !important;">193</td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; border: 1px dotted #aaaaaa; white-space: nowrap !important;">34</td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; border: 1px dotted #aaaaaa; white-space: nowrap !important;">10</td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; border: 1px dotted #aaaaaa; white-space: nowrap !important;">2</td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; border: 1px dotted #aaaaaa; white-space: nowrap !important;">50</td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; border: 1px dotted #aaaaaa; white-space: nowrap !important;"><strong style="font-style: inherit; vertical-align: inherit;"><em style="font-weight: inherit; vertical-align: inherit;">61</em></strong></td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; border: 1px dotted #aaaaaa; white-space: nowrap !important;"><strong style="font-style: inherit; vertical-align: inherit;">14</strong></td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; border: 1px dotted #aaaaaa; white-space: nowrap !important;">53</td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; border: 1px dotted #aaaaaa; white-space: nowrap !important;">140</td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; border: 1px dotted #aaaaaa; white-space: nowrap !important;">.294</td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; border: 1px dotted #aaaaaa; white-space: nowrap !important;">.349</td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; border: 1px dotted #aaaaaa; white-space: nowrap !important;">.386</td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; border: 1px dotted #aaaaaa; white-space: nowrap !important;">.734</td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important; border: 1px dotted solid dotted dotted #aaaaaa #747678 #aaaaaa #aaaaaa;">103</td>
</tr>
<tr class="full" id="batting_standard.2012" data-row="12" style="vertical-align: top;">
<td align="left" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important; border: 1px dotted dotted solid solid #aaaaaa #aaaaaa #747678 #747678;">2012</td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important; border: 1px dotted dotted solid #aaaaaa #aaaaaa #747678;">29</td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important; border: 1px dotted dotted solid #aaaaaa #aaaaaa #747678;">155</td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important; border: 1px dotted dotted solid #aaaaaa #aaaaaa #747678;">703</td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important; border: 1px dotted dotted solid #aaaaaa #aaaaaa #747678;">96</td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important; border: 1px dotted dotted solid #aaaaaa #aaaaaa #747678;">171</td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important; border: 1px dotted dotted solid #aaaaaa #aaaaaa #747678;">26</td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important; border: 1px dotted dotted solid #aaaaaa #aaaaaa #747678;">10</td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important; border: 1px dotted dotted solid #aaaaaa #aaaaaa #747678;">9</td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important; border: 1px dotted dotted solid #aaaaaa #aaaaaa #747678;">57</td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important; border: 1px dotted dotted solid #aaaaaa #aaaaaa #747678;">42</td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important; border: 1px dotted dotted solid #aaaaaa #aaaaaa #747678;"><strong style="font-style: inherit; vertical-align: inherit;"><em style="font-weight: inherit; vertical-align: inherit;">13</em></strong></td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important; border: 1px dotted dotted solid #aaaaaa #aaaaaa #747678;">70</td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important; border: 1px dotted dotted solid #aaaaaa #aaaaaa #747678;">155</td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important; border: 1px dotted dotted solid #aaaaaa #aaaaaa #747678;">.274</td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important; border: 1px dotted dotted solid #aaaaaa #aaaaaa #747678;">.348</td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important; border: 1px dotted dotted solid #aaaaaa #aaaaaa #747678;">.391</td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important; border: 1px dotted dotted solid #aaaaaa #aaaaaa #747678;">.739</td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important; border: 1px dotted solid solid dotted #aaaaaa #747678 #747678 #aaaaaa;">99</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
<tfoot><tr class="stat_total" data-row="13" style="background-color: #dadcde; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: top;">
<td align="left" colspan="2" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important; border: 1px solid dotted solid solid #747678 #aaaaaa #747678 #747678;">7 Yrs</td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important; border: 1px solid dotted #747678 #aaaaaa;">871</td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important; border: 1px solid dotted #747678 #aaaaaa;">3366</td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important; border: 1px solid dotted #747678 #aaaaaa;">459</td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important; border: 1px solid dotted #747678 #aaaaaa;">820</td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important; border: 1px solid dotted #747678 #aaaaaa;">125</td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important; border: 1px solid dotted #747678 #aaaaaa;">45</td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important; border: 1px solid dotted #747678 #aaaaaa;">22</td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important; border: 1px solid dotted #747678 #aaaaaa;">215</td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important; border: 1px solid dotted #747678 #aaaaaa;">276</td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important; border: 1px solid dotted #747678 #aaaaaa;">64</td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important; border: 1px solid dotted #747678 #aaaaaa;">296</td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important; border: 1px solid dotted #747678 #aaaaaa;">679</td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important; border: 1px solid dotted #747678 #aaaaaa;">.272</td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important; border: 1px solid dotted #747678 #aaaaaa;">.339</td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important; border: 1px solid dotted #747678 #aaaaaa;">.365</td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important; border: 1px solid dotted #747678 #aaaaaa;">.704</td>
<td align="right" style="margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important; border: 1px solid solid solid dotted #747678 #747678 #747678 #aaaaaa;">90</td>
</tr></tfoot>
</table>
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<p>Those numbers show that he's basically a league average hitter, though because OPS+ slightly over-values slugging percentage and slightly under-values on-base percentage, and Bourn's OPS is OBP heavy, he's actually a bit better than that (a 104 RC+ each of the last two years, which more accurately reflects the value of each component). He's also clearly a premier base runner, his 155 stolen bases over the last three years are the most in baseball, and he's stolen them at a very strong 80% success rate. He also has the highest score over those years in the base running component of both Baseball-Reference and Fangraphs' WAR calculations.</p>
<p>What those numbers DON'T show is that Bourn is also an elite fielder. Looking at the fielding component of each version of WAR, Bourn has been the second best defensive outfielder in baseball over the last three years (behind only <span>Brett Gardner</span>). He finished second to only <span>Mike Trout</span> in the <a target="_blank" href="http://www.fieldingbible.com/complete-votetally.asp">2012 Fielding Bible Awards voting</a> for center field (no single award is definitive, but if we're gonna quote an award for defense, the Fielding Bible's is far superior to the Gold Glove).</p>
<p>Where did the money for this move come from? The Indians have an extra ~$10M a year coming in from their local TV contract, which is something. They will also have an additional ~$25M a year coming in from MLB's national TV contracts, beginning in 2014. Over the next five years, that will be a total of $140M in new revenue from television (5 x $10M on the local side + 4 x $25M on the national side). If Swisher and Bourn both get their 2017 option to vest, they'll make a total of $130M. So, I think that tells us where the money is coming from. I applaud ownership for committing to putting that money back into the team, even before some of it has begun streaming in.</p>
<p>Bourn had been give a qualifying offer by the <a href="https://www.talkingchop.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Braves</a>, meaning any team that signed him would have to give up their first round pick, unless that pick came in the top ten overall spots of the draft, in which case the team had to give up its second round pick. This seems to have been something of a sticking point for many teams. The <a href="https://www.amazinavenue.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Mets</a> were rumored to have interest. They were sitting on the #11 pick, the very highest pick that could be lost in exchange for signing Bourn. They tried to argue that pick should be protected (because they were one of the ten worst teams, and were only drafting at #11 because the <a href="https://www.bucsdugout.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Pirates</a> were awarded the #9 pick as compensation for being unable to sign their 2012 1st round pick, Mark Appel to a contract), but MLB wasn't hearing it (rightfully not), and the Mets moved on.</p>
<p>The Indians had the unique advantage of not only having their first pick protected (#5 in the first round), but having already forfeited their second round pick on Swisher. The Indians do still have to give up their next available pick, which is the "competitive balance lottery round B" choice they were given last summer, which will fall somewhere around #70 overall. A player picked at that level certainly has a chance to reach the majors and contribute, but not a very good one. Thus, the opportunity cost of signing Bourn was far lower for the Indians than for other interested teams.</p>
<p>Bourn was worth 6 WAR according to Baseball-Reference and 6.4 according to Fangraphs, both of those put him among the top twenty in baseball. Baseball Prospectus wasn't quite as high on his production, credit him with 3.7 WARP (their version of WAR, the P is for "player"), still among the top forty marks in MLB. If the draft pick issue weren't there, I'm confident there's a team that would have topped the Indians' offer. $48/4 or $60/5, it's below market value.</p>
<p>There are some concerns that Bourn's skill set won't age well, because how many 30-something speed merchants or glovesmiths do you see out there? But I don't know that the evidence really supports the claim that a player of his sort is worse off than the average player that age. This contract will cover Bourn's age 30 to 33 or 34 seasons, so, no matter his player-type, it's fair to think he'll be overpaid by its end. He could very well be under-paid over the next couple years though, with a very reasonable shot at providing $60M worth of value over the life of the contract. Once committed to Swisher (also likely to be better in the first couple years of his deal), it made sense to "go for it," and I certainly think it's fair to say the Tribe is doing just that, and without giving up talented prospects. I see a lot to like here.</p>
https://www.coveringthecorner.com/cleveland_indians_2012_2013_offseason/2013/2/11/3978528/cleveland-indians-sign-michael-bournJason Lukehart