TORONTO -- The Blue Jays added some more depth and speed to their organization on Friday afternoon by signing outfielder Michael Bourn to a Minor League contract.
The deal is still pending a physical, according to an MLB.com source, but if Bourn passes, he is expected to report to extended spring training. The Blue Jays will then evaluate him before deciding what the next steps should be.
"I think the plan is to go down to extended [spring workouts]," Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said before Friday night's game against Oakland. "Get him back in shape and do some things. I can't tell you what the plans are. Go down there and see what we have for him."
Bourn is a career .266 hitter with 326 stolen bases over 10 seasons in the Majors. He signed a four-year deal worth $48 million with the Indians before the 2013 season but didn't live up to expectations and was later dealt to Atlanta. The Braves released him from that contract during the spring, and he has yet to appear in a game this season.
If Bourn impresses in the Minor Leagues, he could eventually take the spot of fourth outfielder Ezequiel Carrera on the 25-man roster. Bourn has more speed than Carrera, but he also has not topped 20 stolen bases since 2013 and his .310 on-base percentage last year was problematic.
Bourn also provides additional insurance in case any of Toronto's starting outfielders go down with an injury. Left fielder Michael Saunders is currently day to day with a sore hamstring, but he missed almost all of last season following knee surgery.