Arizona Diamondbacks should pass on Michael Bourn as A.J. Pollock replacement

The Arizona Diamondbacks are reportedly weighing their options after A.J. Pollock’s injury, but a declining Michael Bourn shouldn’t be among them.

The Arizona Diamondbacks were dealt a significant blow on the eve of the 2016 season with the loss of center fielder A.J. Pollock. The 28-year-old, who many expected to build on last year’s breakout performance, underwent surgery for a broken elbow and will miss a considerable amount of time, if not the entire campaign.

It’s a major setback for a much-improved D’backs squad with division title ambitions. Naturally, the team is looking at its options to replace Pollock in the meantime. According to MLB Network insider Jon Heyman, one name in particular has emerged:

Michael Bourn was designated for assignment by the Atlanta Braves over the weekend. If a trade partner can’t be found, he will likely be released and become a free agent in the coming days. While a recognizable name might be appealing to the D’backs as they attempt to shore up their oufield, Bourn is almost surely not the answer.

In his heyday, the two-time All-Star could probably give the D’backs some of what they will lose in Pollock’s absence. Pollock was an all-around contributor for Arizona in 2015, slashing .315/.367/.498 with 20 home runs and 76 RBIs. He also used his speed to rack up 39 steals on the base paths.

While Bourn has never had much in the way of power (31 career homers in 10 seasons), he was once a base-stealing machine who also managed to hit for a fair average. From 2009 to 2011, he slashed .283/.348/.373 and swiped a whopping 174 bags, leading the National League in steals all three years.

Unfortunately for Bourn, that was a while ago and his skills have rapidly declined over the past few seasons. Since signing a four-year deal with the Cleveland Indians prior to the 2013 campaign, Bourn has hit a far more pedestrian .253/.313/.336. His quickness has also become much less of a factor, as he stole just 50 total bases in that span.

Last year, during which he was traded to the Braves, was particularly rough for Bourn. His slash line fell to .238/.310/.282 in 141 games on the season. He stole a modest 17 bases and managed only two triples, a sharp fall from the league-leading 10 he legged out in 2014.

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Bourn’s defense, once a prominent part of his game in winning two Gold Gloves, has also taken a hit of late. After posting a 23.4 UZR/150 in 2012, Bourn put up marks of -0.9, -15.9 and 0.5 over the following three years, respectively. As is often the case with speedsters, losing a step or two can have a pronounced effect on all aspects of the game.

At age 33, it’s difficult to see Bourn bouncing back in any meaningful way in the season ahead, regardless of where he makes his new home. The D’backs would be better-served looking elsewhere, and their primary options could very well come from in-house.

24-year-old Chris Owings appears to be getting the first crack at holding down the center field job. He got off to a pretty good start in the team’s final Spring Training game, going 2-for-4 with a homer and three RBIs on Saturday, raising his spring average to a hearty .368. It’s a promising sign for a player who hasn’t quite made himself comfortable yet on the big league stage.

Owings is a former first-round draft pick of the D’backs and was consistently rated as one of the organization’s top prospects during his minor league career. Last season was his first full campaign at the major league level and it left much to be desired, as he slashed .227/.264/.322 with four homers and 43 RBIs in 147 games.

Playing center is unfamiliar territory for the middle infielder, but Owings is confident he can make the transition: “It’s nothing that’s crazy new. I’m just trying to get comfortable on some reads out there. That’s the biggest thing now.”

Socrates Brito should also receive opportunities. An outfielder by trade, he hit .303 in his first 34 MLB plate appearances last year and owns a .288/.333/.408 slash line in six minor league seasons. He has also collected 86 steals over the past three years at all levels. At age 23, he’s another young option whose best days are potentially ahead of him. As a lefty he presents Arizona with some matchup possibilities as well.

Next: Top Outfielders in 2016

While no one they can reasonably obtain right now is likely to provide the Diamondbacks with the numbers Pollock did a year ago, the club shouldn’t waste at-bats on Bourn, even if he would come at relatively little cost. Arizona should take stock of its younger assets first before determining whether a move needs to be made.