Last week, Reds outfielder Jay Bruce had an opportunity to update his limited no-trade clause by changing the list of eight teams that he can block deals to. However, the 28-year-old decided to stand pat and keep the same clubs on his veto list, as Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com writes. Bruce can block any proposed deal that would send him to the Red Sox, Rays, Yankees, Blue Jays, Diamondbacks, Marlins, A’s, or Twins.
That mix of small and large-market teams presumably shields Bruce from destinations he may prefer not to play in while affording him leverage if a big-spending AL East club were to come calling. Of course, the Orioles are the one AL East club that is not on the block list and they have become the most recent team to be linked to the Cincinnati outfielder. There isn’t any “momentum” toward a trade at this time, according to Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports, but it seems that the talks are at least active.
Bruce, 29 in April, will earn $12.5MM in 2016 and can be controlled for the following year with a $13MM option — or be bought out for $1MM. The Reds are willing to listen on everybody and GM Walt Jocketty said that he would “probably” be open to moving Bruce and Aroldis Chapman, despite his previous reluctance to do so. Bruce slashed .226/.294/.434 in 2015, numbers that were well below his best offensive work from 2010-2013.
Interesting that every AL East team but the Os is on there. Love to hear him talk about that.
Rays and Jays are obvious. Turf.
He just might not see everyday ABs in NY/BOS. Both teams are pretty loaded with outfielders.
Even if he plays for the orioles he will still play on turf alot
Not very. Sox and Yanks are on there because they have lots of money, so Bruce can demand they pick up his option in exchange for agreeing to a trade. He probably doesn’t want to play in Canada (a common opinion throughout baseball, strange as it is because Toronto is a great city). And no hitter wants to go to Tampa. There’s nothing special about Baltimore not being on the list.
I was saying TB and TOR are obvious because no outfielder ever wants to play on turf. He has a history of knee injuries.
Toronto is on every players no trade list because of the insanely high income tax, the turf, and like you said it is tough to go to a new country when you can stay in the USA and make more money. Agree that Toronto is a nice city, but there are great cities here too
The income tax isnt that high losing only a couple grand is nothing
MLBTR did a piece either last offseason or the one before where an agent or a player made it a major issue, it was not a matter of a few grand. Either way it is one of many factors to why players don’t want to play in Toronto.
Jay Bruce’s value is still a mystery to me. The guy hasn’t been good since 2013.
Why would anyone give up much value for him?
If the Reds can get a borderline everyday player and some salary relief, they should take it.
At 12MM, he is actually an affordable OF. If salary relief is the main priority, he would look nice in LF for the Tigers, adding a LH bat behind JD. Since Cinci is looking to trade Chapman, perhaps buying low on Rondon (100mph) plus another prospect would get the job done?
As teammates JD Martinez should play LF, and Jay Bruce RF. Just saying. I don’t know much about JD Martinez, but Bruce has one of the better RF arms in baseball.
I think Rondon is a pretty unlikely target for the Reds – they already have several power arms (albeit few who throw as hard as Rondon) at or close to the MLB level. Turning to someone like Lorenzen or Finnegan as closer in the future seems a little more likely to me, than trading an important asset for a closer like Rondon. Also I wouldn’t be surprised if they added another power arm with control problems in the rule 5 draft. Just my opinion. Generally I think the Reds got everything they wanted from the Tigers in the Alfredo Simon deal.
Reds are interested really only in MLB ready prospects I would think. Preferably position players.
I think another important factor in Bruce’s case is also what the Reds get for Chapman. If the Reds get a MLB-ready RF of the future it drastically increases the chances Bruce is moved, and might make the goal of MLB-ready prospects less important.
Although a RF-of-the-future could also fill the LF vacancy for half a season, until the trade deadline and/or Jesse Winker’s promotion. Acquiring someone like Astros 3b Colin Moran would suddenly push Frazier, rather than Bruce, to the top of the Reds’ list of trade candidates.
I think that’s part of why trading Chapman is clearly the top priority, with Bruce and Frazier to be decided afterwards.
In Detroit, LF is huge. I believe Bruce could cover more ground than JD, who lead the AL in assists from RF. Cespedes was excellent in turning doubles into singles with his arm. Bruce could do the same. As to Rondon becoming the Reds closer, I never said that. I also didn’t think Rondon would be the main piece. Perhaps Steven Moya, who looks like a Bruce type OF: LH, good power, decent speed, great arm, might have more interest. Plus, as seamaholic notes, because he has already had 2 cups of coffee, he is close to ML ready.
He had a knee injury that ruined his 2014 season… he was clearly healthy in 2015, but struggled. He’ll only be 29 and there’s still a reasonable chance that he’ll return to his 2010-13 production in 2016. He’s usually a strong defender in RF with his great arm, and a source of lefthanded power.
Plenty of teams could use a 2x Silver Slugger winning lefty. If the Reds can’t get a good deal for him this winter their best bet is to hope for a strong first half and try to move him again at the trade deadline. The Reds are very capable of affording his contract, and have no immediate need of moving him for salary relief.
Then they should wait. Why trade a guy who hasn’t been a league average hitter in 2 years thats also struggled in the outfield if they think he can rebound
I don’t think they will trade Bruce unless they get a big return. It’s unlikely to happen this winter, which makes a Bruce trade unlikely. They’re certainly looking to move him. Either they get a steal or they keep him.
All they’ve really said is that he’s available, and they’re interested in moving him. Which is different from being determined to move him. He’s in basically the same situation as Todd Frazier, who they’re also open to moving but not determined to do so, unless they get an irresistible return.
Yeah I think teams that imagine grabbing Bruce for a couple B prospects or an extra major league piece are dreaming.
I think the Reds expecting a huge return for a guy who hasn’t been good for two years is also unrealistic. You can blame it on injuries, but whats to say the injury isn’t gone yet? He has to prove himself before they get a big return.
If he’s moved this winter they aren’t going to get a huge return, but they’ll get at least one good prospect with mlb potential plus the salary relief. The salary relief might be just as big an issue right now as the prospect return. There is no need to field a 115M$ payroll for a .400 W% next year. If the Reds eat a couple of million of that deal they might get an even better prospect.
Plan on keeping Bruce and Chapman if Williams was thinking grand on Bruce also. Sub .300 OBP 2 years running, owed at least 13.5m if that 2017 option is declined, negative defensively in the OF.
Not hammering intentionally on the guy personally, just think Williams may be dreaming a bit big with what he has. Especially if that rumor of what the package Boston may have offered for Chapman and he deemed not enough was true. If it is? I’m glad that the Padres accepted for Kimbrel.. even more for 1y of Chapman would have been totally outrageous and have no idea what Williams is thinking. Can’t rebuild Rome in a single night, nor a farm system with 1 trade.
Where do people keep getting that Bruce is negative defensively? It has to be some false connotation that just because he’s a power hitter he can’t play d.
Bruce was worth 5 defensive runs saved last season, has averaged about 4 a year, and has one of the best arms in the RF in the majors
i would imagine Bruce is traded to an AL team. His bat would play well in Mil if an AL team does not come calling. just not sure Mil would want the contract.
As they seem to be rebuilding, 2 yrs of Bruce is probably not that attractive. Seldom do 2 teams, both in rebuilding mode, match up well.
Could anyone see him going to the Giants?
Could make sense, however I think its in the Giants best interest to move Pagan to a corner OF and find a new CFer.
might make more sense just to move on from Pagan. He doesn’t really provide the offense you would like from a corner OF spot.
What would it cost a team to add BOTH Chapman and Bruce?
My guess would be 1 MLB ready top prospect, 1 MLB ready utility/4th OF, and 2 prospects in lower levels
WAR -1.1 in 2014 and .8 in 2015. Too unpredictably inconsistent. Add that to injury creep and fact Reds only control him for 2 more years when nothing likely to happen makes it logical to trade.