Blue Jays sign OF Michael Bourn to minor league contract

TORONTO (AP) The Toronto Blue Jays have signed free agent outfielder Michael Bourn to a minor league contract and will send him to extended spring training.

Manager John Gibbons confirmed the signing before the Blue Jays played host to the Oakland Athletics on Friday night.

The Atlanta Braves released Bourn on April 2. Bourn, who came to the Braves from Cleveland last summer in the same trade that sent Nick Swisher to Atlanta, is still owed $14 million this season.

Bourn, who first reached the major leagues in 2006, also played for Philadelphia and Houston. His best season was 2011 when, while playing for the Braves and Astros, he set career-highs by batting .294 with 34 doubles and 61 stolen bases.

Last year, Bourn hit .238 with no homers, 30 RBIs and 17 stolen bases with the Indians and Braves.