Blue Jays Release Michael Bourn

There was once a time where Michael Bourn was among the elite Centre fielder's in the game.

In his peak years playing for the Houston Astros and Atlanta Braves he was a .280 hitter with a .348 OBP, who routinely stole between 40 and 60 bases, made two All Star Teams (2010 and 2012), and was regarded as one of, if not the best defensive CF in the league. As shown by his two Gold Glove wins (2009 and 2010).

In fact, among all Centre fielder's, only Andrew McCutchen (19.2) had more cumulative WAR between 2009 and 2012 than Bourn (19.1).

But, those years have long come and gone.

Over the weekend, the Toronto Blue Jays released the former Gold Glove All-Star from his Minor League contract effectively making the 33-year-old a Free Agent.

Bourn had hoped to regain his footing in the MLB after failing to live up to the $48M contract that he'd signed with Cleveland after the 2012 campaign. He accumulated just 2.1 WAR in 377 games (1544 PA's) for the Indians and Atlanta Braves over the next three seasons before being released in April by the Braves.

In his short time in the Blue Jays organization Bourn played nine games in Dunedin for the Florida State League team. He hit for a .257/.366/.371 slash (129 wRC+), and stole a base.