ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) - First baseman Justin Bour and the Angels have finalized a $2.5 million, one-year contract, giving Los Angeles depth while Albert Pujols recovers from surgery.
Bour can earn an additional $500,000 in performance bonuses based on plate appearances under the deal announced Saturday: $125,000 each for 350, 400, 450 and 500.
The 30-year-old hit 20 homers and drove in 59 runs with the Marlins and Phillies last season. He played 112 of his 141 games with Miami before an August trade to Philadelphia.
Bour didn’t find a regular spot with Philadelphia down the stretch. The Phillies wouldn’t have a spot for him this year, either, after moving Rhys Hoskins back to first base and signing corner outfielder Andrew McCutchen to a $50 million, three-year contract during the winter meetings.
Bour batted .227, missing time late with an oblique strain. He’s hit 83 home runs over the last four years.
He earned $3.4 million last season after beating Miami in salary arbitration, and then became a free agent last month when Philadelphia didn’t offer a 2019 contract.
Pujols, who turns 39 next month, is working back from surgery on his left knee and right elbow and hasn’t yet swung a bat. He had season-ending knee surgery in August followed by the elbow procedure in September to remove bone spurs.
He’s likely to see more games at designated hitter while two-way star Shohei Ohtani recovers from Tommy John surgery.
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