PHILADELPHIA – The Philadelphia Phillies have claimed outfielder Peter Bourjos off waivers from the St. Louis Cardinals, according to Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
Yep, confirmed. source: center fielder Peter Bourjos claimed off waivers by #phillies. #cardinals have not yet confirmed.
— Derrick Goold (@dgoold) December 2, 2015
Bourjos, 28, hit .200/.290/.333 with eight doubles, three triples, four home runs and 13 runs-batted-in over 225 plate appearances last season with the Cardinals.
MLBTradeRumors.com's Steve Adams writes:
The claim of Bourjos gives the Phillies a defensively gifted center fielder that has a year of club control remaining at a modest (projected) salary of $1.8MM. The Phillies had the top waiver priority this offseason, meaning Bourjos was nabbed by the first team to which he was made available. That, perhaps, shouldn’t come as a total surprise considering the fact that new Phillies GM Matt Klentak was a longtime assistant GM with the organization that drafted and developed Bourjos — the Angels.
The six-year veteran was a non-tender candidate prior to being claimed by the Phillies.
Phillies have liked Bourjos for years. Outfield at moment includes Bourjos, Herrera, Asche, Altherr and Sweeney. Ruf can play LF, too.
— Todd Zolecki (@ToddZolecki) December 2, 2015
The Phillies' 40-man roster remains at 38, as right-hander Nefi Ogando was claimed off waivers by the Miami Marlins. Ogando, 26, allowed five runs on seven hits and two walks in four appearances out of the bullpen last season.
The acquisition of Bourjos could erase the possibility of the Phillies re-signing outfielder Jeff Francoeur, who hit .258/.286/.433 last season with 30 extra-base hits in 343 plate appearances.
Matt Rappa (@mattrappasports) is managing editor of Philliedelphia.com.
