Atlanta Braves add an infielder and outfielder and confusion
By Fred Owens
Peter Bourjos
About an hour after they announced the Flaherty signing we found that former Angels, Cardinals, Phillies and Rays outfielder Peter Bourjos also inked a major league deal with Atlanta.
Source: Peter Bourjos signed an MLB deal with the #Braves for $1MM
— Steve Adams (@Adams_Steve) March 25, 2018
While Bourjos isn’t a star with the stick either,he had a good spring with the Cubs ( .326/.362/.372/.734) and could prove useful against LHP. Over the last two seasons he posted a .278/.320/.406/.726 line in 200 PA and he can steal a base now and then as well.
Bourjos’ glove was always his calling card. In 2010 he posted 1.8 fWAR most due to a 17.1 UZR and 14 DRS in 449 2/3 innings as center fielder for the Halos. In 2011 he put together his best year at the plate – .271/.327/.438/.765, 114 wRC+,.335 wOBA – and backed it up with 10 DRS and a 7.0 UZR.
The arrival of Mike Trout in 2012 eventually pushed him into a fourth outfielder bench role but he still managed a 9 DRS and 16.3 UZR in 501 centerfield innings.
The Angels traded Bourjos and Randal Grichuk to the Cardinals after the 2013 season. The Cardinals hoped to use him as their regular center fielder but his bat was never strong enough. H played just 641 innings that season but still posted 7 DRS an 8.9 UZR.
Bourjos 2015 wasn’t as good as usual but returned to defensive highlight reels the following season.