Sources: Nationals, Angels have talked about Bourjos
The Nationals and Angels have had preliminary discussions about a trade that would send center fielder Peter Bourjos to Washington, major-league sources told FOXSports.com.
The Royals, Diamondbacks and Blue Jays also have checked on the availability of Bourjos, sources say.
It’s not clear how far the Nationals-Angels talks have advanced, but the fit is evident: The Angels have a surplus of outfielders, and Bourjos’ playing time has fallen considerably since the arrival of prospect Mike Trout. The Nationals could use another outfielder to help them through the sudden (and possibly long-term) absence of Jayson Werth.
Apart from the acute circumstance of Werth’s injury, Washington general manager Mike Rizzo has been trying to acquire a long-term center fielder for months. Bourjos, 25, would match that description.
The Angels, tied for the most bullpen losses in the American League, would prioritize a relief pitcher in any deal for Bourjos. That is problematic for Washington in the near term, with closer Drew Storen and alternate closer Brad Lidge on the disabled list. The Nationals will be more comfortable parting with a reliever once Storen or Lidge is back.
Storen, though, won’t return anytime soon. The Nationals believe July is a best-case scenario for him, after he had surgery to remove a bone chip from his right (pitching) elbow.
The Angels may scan the market for catchers, too, after Thursday’s news that Chris Iannetta will miss six to eight weeks after undergoing right wrist surgery. Iannetta sustained the injury when he was hit by a pitch the night he caught Jered Weaver’s no-hitter.
-- Jon Paul Morosi
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The Angels should absolutely NOT trade Bourjos. He's the fastest outfielder in baseball, makes catches others only dream of making, and runs the base faster than anyone I can remember. If the Angels had a hitting coach who was effective, Bourjos wouldn't be stuck in a season-long slump, and wouldn't have fallen out of favor with Scioscia. The team needs to look to the future as well, because next year, Torri Hunter is a free agent. If he leaves, you put Trout in right and Bourjos in center. Better yet, re-sign Hunter, find someone to take Vernon Wells in whatever trade you can talk them in to, and put Trout in left, Bourjos in center, and Hunter in right. Trading Bourjos now is sort-sighted.
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Trading Bourjos would be as wise as trading Napoli was. This front office with it's win now mentality and no thought put into the next season is getting pretty frustrating to watch in action. Having the problem of such a talented outfield is a nice problem to have but getting rid of a young talent like Bourjos isn't going to solve anything. Trade Callaspo for a catcher to keep Trumbo in the line up and have Wells take over the occasional starts at DH and put Bourjos in center, Trout in left and Hunter in right.
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Bourjous is great, but relief pitching is hard to come by, the angels have a pretty sweet kid down here in Salt Lake name Kole Kalhoun he is a left fielder wont contend with trout and is young and wait he can hit and run.
