Reds ink Bourgeois to Minor League deal
Outfielder invited to spring camp with chance to provide depth off bench
CINCINNATI -- The Reds added outfield depth recently by signing free agent Jason Bourgeois to a Minor League contract with an invite to big league camp.
The deal was completed on Oct. 24.
Bourgeois, 31, has been well traveled and has played for five big league clubs over the last six seasons. In nine games for the Rays in 2013, he batted .188, and in 90 games for Triple-A Durham, he batted .290 with a .343 on-base percentage and 22 steals.
"I like this guy and we've liked him for a while," Reds general manager Walt Jocketty said. "He's a guy that I think will have a chance as a bench player for us. If not with our club, he would provide good depth at Triple-A."
In 231 career games with the White Sox, Brewers, Astros, Royals and Rays, Bourgeois is batting .259 with a .305 on-base percentage and 51 stolen bases. Defensively, he can play all three outfield positions.
If the right-handed-hitting Bourgeois were to make the Reds, his value could be against left-handed pitching. Over his big league career, he's a .308 hitter with a .355 on-base percentage vs. lefties compared to a .207 hitter with a .252 OBP against right-handers.