Daniel Shirey-USA TODAY Sports
Michael Bourn has been sitting around this Major League Baseball offseason waiting for a team to sign him. There is a team that needs a center fielder in the Tampa Bay Rays that would be a great fit for Bourn’s talent. Bourn could easily be put right at the top of Rays lineup and lead Tampa Bay to a possible American League East title.
Bourn plugs in well with the other pieces in the Tampa Bay order, like Ben Zobrist and Evan Longoria. If Tampa Bay does decide to sign Bourn, it could allow the team to wait a few more months on bringing top prospect Wil Myers up from Triple-A, which is key for Tampa’s future. As I have mentioned in the past, Bourn is a player that can steal 30-40 bases and with the parts in the Rays’ lineup, could put extra pressure on opposing pitchers who may spend too much time paying attention to Bourn as opposed to the hitter at the plate.
This idea of Bourn going to Tampa Bay just seems too logical to me. The Rays need help in center field after B.J. Upton left town via free agency, and Bourn is still trying to find a new team for 2013. It is a perfect match and would bring a left-handed leadoff batter to a Tampa Bay team that could use a new leadoff hitter. The wait has been very long for Bourn this offseason, so hopefully this comes to pass and Bourn can get a new team for 2013 before spring training gets underway in a few weeks.
Andy Schmidt is a columnist/writer for RantSports. Follow him on Twitter @ASchmidtSports or like his Facebook page.
