OF Michael Bourn remains on the free agent market. However, if the Mets sign him, they have to give up their first round pick in 2013.
Jan. 22: The Mets have been internally discussing Bourn quite a bit. (Heyman, MLB Network).
Matthew Cerrone, MetsBlog.com:
Jan. 22: The way I understand it, the Mets will consider giving up a draft pick to sign Bourn only if they make another significant acquisition in the outfield. I'm guessing here, but I interpret that to mean Bourn (on his own) is not worth the pick, since his upside will not make a big enough impact alone. However, if another outfielder is acquired, adding Bourn to the mix might make a difference, and might be worth passing on a top pick. It's all a long shot, though.
Jan 20: If Bourn's asking price comes down, the Mets might consider signing him (Cafardo, Boston Globe).
Jan. 8: The Mets are not interested in surrendering their first round pick for Bourn (McCullough, Star Ledger).
Statistics, information and analysis on Michael Bourn...
Stats: In 155 games with the Braves last year, Bourn hit .274 with a .348 OBP and .739 OPS, 9 HR and 57 RBI with 42 stolen bases in 55 attempts.
Contract: Bourn signed a one-year, $6.8 million deal with the Braves to avoid arbitration before the 2012 season.
Matthew Cerrone, MetsBlog.com:
I still expect Bourn to either go back to the Braves or sign with the Rangers, but time will tell' He had a career year in 2012, so I'd be leery on overpaying and overcommitting to a guy who is 30 and relies so much on his legs. I like him, but not at the cost of Sandy Alderson's first-round pick, nor in return for a long-term deal. Also, when Alderson decides one day to spend big bucks on a free agent, be it this winter or next, he needs to pay for power not speed. The Mets need outfielders today, but they don't need the wrong outfielder.
Michael Baron, MetsBlog.com:
Ideally, yes, Bourn is a fit and he would give the Mets outfield some instant credibility. He does strike out a lot, but he's become an excellent top of the order catalyst as an outstanding base stealer with triples speed. The Mets don't have much of that, and it's something they have desperately needed since both Jose Reyes and Angel Pagan departed after 2011. But, a) he's left-handed and the Mets need right-handed outfielders (although beggars can't be choosers at this stage of the off-season), b) they need power in the outfield, c) Bourn is a Scott Boras client, and there's no doubt he will try and get someone to overpay for Bourn, and d) he received a qualifying offer from the Braves, and so the team Bourn signs with will have to surrender their first round pick in the 2013 draft ' it's not logical for the Mets to give up that pick for Bourn right now, especially for a shorter term deal. On top of that, Bourn depends on his legs to be successful, and he's now 30 years old; it remains to be seen how quickly those skills diminish in the coming seasons.
