May takes over in center as White Sox trade Bourjos
This is not exactly the blockbuster trade the Chicago White Sox were expected to make in spring training.
The rebuilding Sox are still listening to offers for No. 1 starting pitcher Jose Quintana, closer David Robertson and other veterans, but journeyman center fielder Peter Bourjos is on the move in a deal that is nonetheless interesting.
Bourjos, 29, was traded to the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday for a player to be named later or cash considerations.
Signed to a minor-league contract on Jan. 30, Bourjos quickly moved up the depth chart when Charlie Tilson went down with another injury.
Acquired in a July 31 trade from the St. Louis Cardinals, Tilson played in one game for the White Sox last season and tore his left hamstring. Tilson was diagnosed with a stress reaction in his right foot early in camp and is still in a walking boot. The 24-year-old center fielder is not expected to be ready to play until some point in May at the earliest.
Bourjos, a Park Ridge native, appeared to win the starting job while batting .313 with 4 doubles, 3 triples and 3 RBI in 19 Cactus League games.
The trade strongly indicates the White Sox will open the season with prospect Jacob May in center.
In 24 exhibition games, May has a .339/.361/.525 hitting line with 2 doubles, 3 triples, 1 home run, 3 RBI and a team-high 4 stolen bases.
"I had nothing to lose," May told reporters Tuesday at Camelback Ranch. "Honestly, I came into this spring feeling personally as a darkhorse in this whole thing, not someone that is really talked about a lot, which is fine with me. I don't really care about that stuff. It gave me a little chip on my shoulder. People didn't expect too much from me. I know the organization knows what I'm capable of doing, which is all that really matters.
"Everyone else has opinions as well. But as long as everyone in that lockerroom knows what I'm capable of, that's all I can care about. I came in and I just wanted to play my butt off. I wanted to play hard and just have my teammates' back and be a good lockerroom guy. Stay humble and continue to learn every day and get better."
Drafted by the White Sox on the third round in 2013 out of Coastal Carolina, May has impressive bloodlines. His grandfather, Lee May, hit 354 home runs with the Reds, Astros, Orioles and Royals. His uncle, Carlos May, played 9 of his 10 major-league seasons with the White Sox. His father, Lee May Jr., was drafted by the Mets with the No. 21 overall pick in 1986.
"My whole life, I've been dreaming about this," Jacob May said. "Since I was a little kid, I've been around lockerrooms and around players. It's a little surreal."
Like Tilson, May has dealt with his own injuries, playing just 83 games with Class AAA Charlotte last season due to abdomen strains on both the right and left sides. The 5-foot-10, 180-pounder dealt with a concussion in 2015 and missed time with a finger injury in 2014.
May slashed .266/.309/.352 with Charlotte in 2016, adding 19 doubles, 2 triples, 1 homer, 24 RBI and 19 stolen bases.
Leury Garcia is also expected to break camp with the Sox, and the utility infielder can back up May in center field.
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