Baltimore Orioles Acquire Michael Bourn, Drew Stubbs
By Joshua Mayer
The Baltimore Orioles made two outfield additions yesterday. The team traded for Diamondback Michael Bourn and also claimed outfielder Drew Stubbs off release waivers from the Rangers.
MLB Network Insider Jon Heyman first reported Michael Bourn being dealt to the Baltimore Orioles. While the full trade has not yet been reported, it can be assumed the Orioles sent back a low-level prospect in return for the speedy outfielder.
Bourn, 33, signed with the Diamondbacks in mid-May and was brought to the big leagues soon after. He had been Arizona’s main centerfielder in AJ Pollock’s absence. Bourn slashed .261/.307/.362 while swiping 13 bags in 18 attempts in his 89 games in Arizona.
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For the Orioles, this is a smart move, especially with star Adam Jones dealing with a hamstring injury. Bourn is not a huge addition by any means, but should provide depth to an outfield that has seen rookie Joey Rickard go down due to injury.
Beyond that, Baltimore does not have many players capable of playing center besides Adam Jones. In fact, Nolan Reimold was the only player on the Orioles roster with any MLB experience in centerfield with a whole 16 games played there throughout his eight year career.
Though Bourn’s hitting statistics are below average, Fangraphs pegs him at one Defensive Runs Saved (DRS), and 1.7 runs above average on the base-paths. He should be a capable defensive substitution and pinch runner for manager Buck Showalter to use on a team badly needing speed and defense.
Drew Stubbs is the other addition the Orioles made today, as he was claimed after being released by the Rangers. Stubbs hit well in a tiny sample size of 20 at-bats with Texas, but lost his spot when the team signed Carlos Gomez. He also stole four bases in that span.
Like Bourn, Stubbs will provide the Orioles with speed on the base-paths and solid defense. Either player can be used as an improvement over Mark Trumbo in the outfield if the team wants to make some late-game defensive changes. Stubbs has received negative scores in Fangraphs DRS this year, but has plenty of experience in center and received a positive rating just last year.
These moves were made at a strategic time, as August 31 is the deadline for newly acquired players to be postseason-eligible. In addition, the team will not have to get rid of anyone on their 25-man roster as a corresponding move since rosters expand to a limit of 40 on September 1.
All in all, the Orioles did not improve significantly with either of these roster moves, but both should supply them with capable center field replacements until Adam Jones comes back.
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With the Orioles clinging to a half game lead over the Detroit Tigers for the last Wild Card spot, these reinforcements are needed. Orioles fans should hope that for a brief time Stubbs and Bourn think it is 2010 (22 HR, 52 SB respectively), and are able to help the team with their playoff push.