Washington Nationals Editorial: Where Does Ben Revere Rank Among NL East Center Fielders?

Philadelphia Phillies –Peter Bourjos

Back in December, the Phillies claimed Bourjos off waivers from the St. Louis Cardinals. Last season, Bourjos had a slash line of .200/.290/.333 with four home runs and 13 RBI’s in 117 games for St. Louis. The right-handed hitter does not bring much offense to the table, but he is more known for his defensive capabilities.

However, his defense did slip in 2015. According to Fangraphs, his defensive runs saved dropped from seven in 2014 to -4 in 2015. Plus, his UZR dropped from 8.9 in 214 to -3.4 in 2015. The question is going to be whether or not Bourjos, who will be 29 in March, can bounce back with a new change of scenery.

Last season, the Phillies used rookie Odubel Herrera in center field and Herrera flourished as he hit .297 with eight home runs, 41 RBI’s, and had 16 stolen bases in 147 games. But, with a hole in left field, Herrera likely slides into that part of the outfield.

For 2016, the Phillies need Bourjos to be a good contact hitter at the bottom of the order. While he is not the player that stole 22 bases, had 11 triples, and had a WAR of 5.1 with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in 2011 (led the team), he can still steal a few bases and provide some consistent defense for a young team. But, there is a significant talent gap between Bourjos and the rest of the center fielders in the National League East.

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