We published one set of Reds Notes last night, and now here’s some more news out of Cincinnati…
- The Reds would like to trade Jay Bruce within the next week, ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick reports (Twitter link). If a deal can’t be completed within that timeframe, the “odds increase that he’ll start [the] season in Cincinnati.”
- The proposed and apparently abandoned three-team trade from Monday that would’ve sent Bruce to the Blue Jays and Michael Saunders to the Angels reportedly fell apart due to a medical issue with a prospect Toronto had ticketed to the Reds. The prospect’s health, however, was just one of many issues that caused the trade to be scuttled, ESPN’s Buster Olney tweets. In his subscriber-only column today, Olney also noted that the prospects involved in the trade weren’t top-tier names and not major components in the deal, so injury concerns alone wouldn’t have been a big problem.
- Also from Olney in his column from yesterday, the Reds are having some concerns that they won’t be able to trade Bruce at all. The club has been shopping the outfielder for months, coming close on the Toronto trade and in a deadline deal that would’ve sent Bruce to the Mets, so there’s at least some interest in Bruce’s services. Still, it has to be something of a tough sell given Bruce’s struggles over the last two seasons and the minimum $13.5MM ($12.5MM salary, $1MM buyout of his 2017 option) owed to him for 2016.
- As Reds fans prepare for what could be a long year, Yahoo Sports’ Tim Brown looks at how the team could approach its rebuild.
Wouldn’t be surprised to see the White Sox get involved with Bruce as the prospect value shouldn’t be too high and the reds are now familiar with what they have following the steal that was the Frazier deal
Perhaps the White Sox wanted to exhaust the FA market before the trade market to avoid depleting the farm further but one would think that they would have already moved on Bruce if they were going to. They obviously had negotions with Cincinnati already so I doubt they pursue Bruce at this point unless the asking price is truly low
Bruce is a big ticket item for any club. Would be worth a shot but guessing Reds don’t want to pick up any salary. Texas ????
Funniest part of this piece? That the season “could be” a long one for the Reds.
It’s funny because we all know this season will be a disaster. And it looks like the rebuild is going to take a generation or more.
But why trade Bruce when his stock is so low? My only guess is that a salary dump of Bruce has something to do with the MLB revenue sharing formula. Essentially, spend less in ’16 and get more in ’17 from MLB’s Central Fund.
“In addition, a chunk of MLB’s Central Fund — made up of revenues from sources like national broadcast contracts — is disproportionately allocated to teams based on their relative revenues, so lower-revenue teams get a bigger piece of the pie.” CBS sports
I’m not sure I’m understanding Olney’s logic on several points. If the prospects (and supposedly their health) weren’t a major component of a trade that was apparently in the process of being finalized, then why was it scuttled? Is he implying the Reds just got cold feet and used the medical concern as an excuse to back out of the trade, even though they apparently really want to move Bruce and had a trade they seemed to like just hours earlier lined up? Also, how from the Reds view could the prospects not be a major component of the trade? Is that not all they were going to get, or were the Angels sending them a major leaguer? All around, it’s kind of nonsensical.
Bruce seems to be the ideal but low candidate for a team willing to take on salary. Even a rebuilding team like Atlanta can turn him into a net positive.
ChiSox are slowly acquiring some talent to make a playoff push. That could be enough to push Bruce in the right direction and have a rebound year in US Cellular. If he does rebound, you could look to extend his contract or let him walk and possibly pick up a draft pick. If he flops, its a short term deal and the Sox gave up “most likely” very little quality to acquire him. I’d say….Go for it!
Why not trade Votto to Toronto and get a much better haul in prospects. If you’re going to rebuild, at least do it and get it over with. Take what you can get for Bruce and dump his salary. From a Toronto standpoint, you think they’d jump at the chance to bring a hometown hero home, then let Bautista walk at the end of the year and resign Encarnacion
Why not just trade Votto to Totonto and take a much better haul than what Bruce could bring. Win-Win, better prospects and possibly young league ready talent for Cincy and Hometown guy who’s an MVP for Toronto. Trade Bruce and take what you can get to dump his salary. Toronto can let Bautista walk and work to resign Encarnacion. If you’re gonna rebuild, do it and give the fans something to look forward to
As a Reds fan, I hate to see them trade Bruce. He has some power, and is due to bounce back. And they have no heir apparent in RF.
If the prospect haul is low for acquiring him, I think the pirates should kick the tires on the deal and use him in an outfield/first base rotation until the trade deadline…if he isn’t working out, they salary dump him for peanuts, however if his bat is contributing, then that’s one less bench bat or key starter (depending on injuries) that you’re forced to overpay for at the deadline. The pirates also have a chance to weaken a division rival by making the deal also. I just don’t think that it would be a bad thing to be proactive by considering yourself a contender and prematurely upgrade your 25 man roster. Plus, there is nothing wrong to have an insurance policy for if Polanco slumps the first half if the season again, or at a minimum have a 4 man outfield rotation to keep guys like Cutch and Marte fresh the entire season without fielding a lineup with any glaring holes. And as I previously suggested, he can play some first base on occasion as well…I know he played first base several times while Votto was injured. He isn’t an everyday type guy at first by any stretch of the imagination, but he is serviceable to be able to get that bat in the lineup from time to time or to just simply rest Jaso. Lots of possibilities…I don’t think being proactive is a bad thing here, especially when 3-5 games could make a huge difference in the Buccos playoff positioning this year, start the season loaded as though it were the trade deadline rather than wait till July…like I said, you can always dump his salary at the deadline if you aren’t in the playoff picture and recoup some of the money you invested.