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The Braves had been looking for a dynamic leadoff man since Rafael Furcal left after the 2005 season, and they had lacked a superb center fielder (who could stay healthy) since Andruw Jones left a couple of years later.

Bourn, a two-time Gold Glove winner, has made a few brilliant plays in center field since being traded to the Braves on July 31.

In Michael Bourn, they have both Furcal and Andruw. And have neither of them. Because while he brings some of the best attributes of those two, including strong defense and big-time disruption on the bases, he is also unlike either of them in other ways.

With Bourn eligible for free agency after the 2012 season, the question becomes: What is he worth? And probably more importantly, what will his agent, Scott Boras, think he’s worth? (We can assume the Boras initial asking price will be a deal of at least five years with an annual salary far higher than any team thinks he’s worth, then go from there.)

Bourn is making $4.4 million this season and eligible for arbitration once more next spring, so unless he signs a long-term deal I’d expect him to get a raise to at least $6.5 million for 2012 through arb. But I’m just speculating; it’s tough to find comparables.

Should the Braves try to sign him to an extension this winter? Lock him up just in case he cranks out another 60-stolen base season in 2012 like he had in ’09, with a plus-.300 average like he has this season? Or risk losing him as a free agent if Boras finds that one team that believes it when Boras tells them Bourn is the difference-maker, the missing piece, for that team? That happens. http://blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-braves-blo ... ould-they/