Indians Signing of Bourn Changes Outlook

On the day Spring Training opened for the Cleveland Indians, the front office has pulled another shocker. Monday night it was announced the Tribe had acquired free agent outfielder Michael Bourn.
Bourn was the highest ranked player left on the open market. He reportedly has signed a four year agreement at $12 million per year, with a team vesting option for a fifth season if he accumulates 550 at bats in 2016. The deal is contingent pending a physical.
Bourn, 30, began his career with the Philadelphia Phillies in 2006, then moved on to the Houston Astros in 2008. He was traded to Atlanta at the deadline in 2011. The center fielder batted .274 with Atlanta last year in 154 games, scoring 90 runs, stealing 42 bases and had 70 walks while batting lead off.
As we stated last week, it was thought $12 million for four years would get Bourn in Cleveland. The New York Mets were rumored to be the front runner for Bourn’s services all winter, yet didn’t want to give a fourth year on the contract and give up a first round draft pick.
The Tribe is showing the fans for the first time in over a decade they are in to win. The draft picks were a necessary evil to bring in a player like Bourn. Because of the signing they will forfeit their third pick in the First-Year Player Draft in June.
Now come the questions only to be answered in March. Currently the Indians have four outfielders, three of them center fielders. Michael Brantley, Drew Stubbs, Nick Swisher and now Bourn. Who plays where will work itself out, but options abound for manager Terry Francona. Yet the pressure appears to be squarely on Stubbs to produce or lose out.
Before the signing, Stubbs was slated to be the lead off man and play center. Stubbs is not what the Reds were looking for at lead off, so they traded him to Cleveland. Last year Stubbs hit only .213 in 136 games and 493 at bats. He walked 42 times while striking out a whopping166 times. He KO’d 205 times in 2011, which was exactly 34% of his trips to the plate.
Mark Donahue, co-host of the “Ohio Baseball Weekly Show” says Stubbs problems are he doesn’t change his swing. Now, with his full time spot in jeopardy, he will have to change or become a bench warmer.
Should Stubbs accept the challenge and become what the Indians think he can be, this give Francona options. First it would give the team the fastest outfield in baseball and possibly the best defensive unit. Stubbs could move to right, Bourn stays in center and Brantley goes to left. That means Swisher, who was set in right, would probably move to first. That is where he played when first coming to the majors. Then Mark Reynolds, another free agent signee, could be the full time DH. This makes the Indians lineup strong from top to bottom, yet more prone to strike outs.
At first glance, the lineup with Stubbs could be as follows……
CF Bourn
2B Kipnis
SS Cabrera
1B Swisher
DH Reynolds
C Santana
LF Brantley
3B Chisenhall
RF Stubbs
This lineup will give Lonnie Chisenhall the entire year to play third and prove what he can do at the major league level without pressure of needing to be a key factor. Stubbs batted second at times with Cincinnati, yet strikes out too much so it’s better if he moves to ninth in the order. This spot, if he can hit, gives the lineup what can be considered two lead off men.
Carlos Santana would also finally bat sixth, which he is better suited for rather than a run producing spot like fourth or fifth. Santana would be able to relax and concentrate on making contact, letting his natural ability come through.
Overall this will excite the fan base and should produce a better team on the field. Wherever the Dolans have come up with the influx of cash, whether it be from the sale of SportsTime Ohio, Francona or they just decided to spend money, it bodes well for the upcoming season.
Now it’s up to the Pitching.

Dave Mitchell co-hosts with Mark Donahue the UST talk show “Ohio Baseball Weekly,” highlighting the Cleveland Indians and Cincinnati Reds. The Show returns on March 4th, at 9pm with a two-hour special. If you have a comment on this or any other article,email Dave at dmitch@ultimatesportstalk.com or on twitter @ohbbcohost.