Michael Bourn
CF FA
Sun 4/14/13 3:52 PM

Michael Bourn has been diagnosed with a right hand laceration. Bourn left Sunday's game after his hand was stepped on by White Sox reliever Matt Thornton when the outfielder slid head-first into first base. It's not clear at this point how much time he might miss. The Indians have an off day on Monday.

Michael Bourn
CF FA
Sun 4/14/13 3:35 PM

Michael Bourn left Sunday's game after his right hand was stepped on when he slid into first base. White Sox reliever Matt Thornton stepped on Bourn as he went to cover the bag on the outfielder's infield single. Bourn had three hits in the game, including a home run, before exiting. The Indians should update his status before long.

Michael Bourn
CF FA
Tue 4/9/13 4:52 PM

Michael Bourn is out of the Indians' starting lineup on Tuesday evening against the Yankees. It's just a routine day off for the speedy center fielder, who is hitting .344/.400/.594 with one homer and one steal through the first seven games of his Indians tenure. Drew Stubbs is starting in center field and Ryan Raburn is playing right field on Tuesday against New York.

Michael Bourn
CF FA
Fri 2/15/13 12:13 PM

Indians signed OF Michael Bourn to a four-year, $48 million contract. The deal, which also contains a $12 million vesting option for a fifth season, was reported Monday and is now official. Bourn, of course, will start in center field for the Tribe, with Michael Brantley handling left, Drew Stubb sliding over to right and Nick Swisher moving in to first base. The 30-year-old hit .274/.348/.391 with nine homers, 57 RBI and 42 steals in 155 games last season for the Braves.

Michael Bourn
CF FA
Mon 2/11/13 9:01 PM

According to Joel Sherman of the New York Post, the Mets made a four-year, $48 million offer to Michael Bourn. That's the exact amount of guaranteed money that Bourn got Monday night from the Indians, but his deal with Cleveland carries a $12 million vesting option for 2017. The Mets were told by Major League Baseball that the grievance over retaining their 2013 first-round pick would not have a resolution for 2-3 weeks.

Michael Bourn
CF FA
Mon 2/11/13 8:25 PM

Jon Heyman of CBS Sports reports that the Indians have signed free agent outfielder Michael Bourn to a four-year, $48 million contract with a vesting option for 2017. That option vests if Bourn reaches 550 plate appearances in 2016. It's another big offseason splash for the Indians, who have also acquired Nick Swisher, Trevor Bauer, Drew Stubbs, Jason Giambi, Mark Reynolds and Daisuke Matsuzaka. They also decided to keep shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera. Bourn will start in center field for Cleveland and should retain a good amount of fantasy value. He hit .274/.348/.391 with nine homers, 57 RBI and 42 stolen bases in 155 games last season for the Braves.

Michael Bourn
CF FA
Mon 2/11/13 6:57 PM

According to ESPN's Buster Olney, the Cubs are "on the fringes" of the market for outfielder Michael Bourn. Bourn has struggled to attract offers this winter because he is tied to the new draft pick compensation system. But signing him would only cost the Cubs their second-round selection in 2013, so they're keeping an open line of communication with the free agent center fielder's representatives and may pounce if the asking price dips low enough. He'd make for fine midseason trade bait.

Michael Bourn
CF FA
Mon 2/11/13 11:20 AM

Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe reports that MLBPA executive counsel David Prouty has been in talks with MLB through the Mets regarding the Michael Bourn draft pick issue. The report contradicts the New York Daily News' Andy Martino's report from Sunday that said the two sides had yet to discuss the matter. Jim Bowden of ESPN.com reported last week that the Mets believe their pick will be protected if there is a hearing before an arbitrator regarding the issue. The Mets are obviously hesitant to sign Bourn if it meant losing the No. 11 pick.

Michael Bourn
CF FA
Sun 2/10/13 11:45 AM

Andy Martino of the New York Daily News reports that there have been "no discussions" between Major League Baseball and the MLBPA regarding the Mets' draft pick issue. The Mets think they should be able to keep the No. 11 pick if they sign Michael Bourn since they had the 10th-worst record in 2012, but it is the MLBPA, not the Mets, that would have to file a grievance. Jim Bowden of ESPN.com reported last week that the Mets believe their pick will be protected if there is a hearing before an arbitrator regarding the issue.

Michael Bourn
CF FA
Thu 2/7/13 2:01 PM

According to Jim Bowden of ESPN and MLB Network Radio, it is likely that the Mets' 11th overall pick will be protected if they sign outfielder Michael Bourn. The Mets first have to convince Major League Baseball and the MLBPA to tweak the new draft pick compensation rules, but the word is that that could very well wind up being a successful pursuit. The Mets front office is reportedly willing to offer the speedy center fielder a four-year free agent contract worth close to $15 million annually. Bourn hasn't drawn much interest from other teams because signing him will cost any organization outside of the Top 10 its 2013 first-round draft pick.