Since it’s probably fair to assume we’re going to learn quite a bit of new information on Reds outfielder Jay Bruce today, we’ll go ahead and kick off the weekend’s deadline chatter with a post to house it. You can check back on last night’s whirlwind series of reports right here. Bottom line: there was talk of movement with the Dodgers, possibly involving Yasiel Puig and/or a third team, but nothing has come to fruition as of yet.
Here’s the latest on the veteran slugger, who is putting up career-best numbers at the plate and comes with another season of control via a $13MM club option:
- Rosenthal tweets that the Mets and Reds continue to discuss a Bruce swap, but nothing is close at this time.
- The Mets are “very involved” in the pursuit of Bruce, according to MLB.com’s Mark Sheldon (Twitter link). New York, of course, discussed Bruce with Cincinnati at last year’s trade deadline but ultimately secured Yoenis Cespedes instead.
- Stark reports that the Reds aren’t asking for elite prospects for Bruce but want two or three good players from the next tier down (Twitter link).
Earlier Updates
- The Rangers have at least “checked in” on Bruce, per ESPN.com’s Jerry Crasnick (Twitter link). Texas could be a fit with Prince Fielder out for the year and Shin-Soo Choo dealing with ongoing back issues, though Crasnick notes that pitching remains the priority.
- The Mariners were said yesterday to be both out and then in on Bruce, but Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports says (Twitter links) that there’s nothing happening on that front (though the teams are discussing shortstop Zack Cozart). Another team with questionable interest is the Giants, and Rosenthal suggests that they are still kicking around the idea of adding Bruce. The idea would be to slot his bat into the outfield mix now, and then use him as a replacement for free agent-to-be Angel Pagan in 2017.
- Though the Dodgers are still involved on Bruce, last night’s chatter of a three-team swap is dead, according to ESPN.com’s Jayson Stark (via Twitter). It was never entirely clear just what that scenario might have looked like, though it seemed that Puig was a piece of the picture.
- Bruce’s market represents a “moving target,” Jon Heyman of Fan Rag tweets. (Those of you who followed yesterday’s frenzy will surely understand this.) As things stand as the weekend begins, the Orioles are out, per Heyman. The Nationals are focused first on improving their bullpen, though seemingly remain involved. That leaves the Dodgers as the obvious suitor, with the Mets and Mariners among the other organizations that have at least some ongoing interest in Bruce.
chophawk
I heard the Braves were a possible third team involved in a three way deal, with Puig going possibly going to Atlanta.
ThatGuy 2
No
stymeedone
For Markakis?
Aflurry88
Why do all the braves fans on here think the braves are gonna go trade for everyone? You do realize your team is one of the worst in baseball right now? They are rebuilding not “go dumb all our prospects on other aging players that are proven but cost more”.
courtma41
Matt Kemp
thunder12k
From a Mets perspective, can Puig play CF (at least more efficiently than Conforto or Granderson)? Three-way deal centered around Bruce, Puig and Wheeler makes sense on some level at least if the Mets think Puig can bounce back and play CF for at least this season.
chophawk
I think Puig can play anywhere in the outfield. What would scare me is what he does with the ball lol.
metseventually 2
Mets can’t afford to give up Wheeler with who often they have injuries. Plus, Cincy wants offensive prospects.
thunder12k
Reds have been scouting Plawecki so maybe it’s Plawecki and Nimmo, I don’t know. But I think they could match up
hanks1hammer
Did you read that somewhere. Looking at their farm, I don’t see why they would prefer offense of pitching.
Freddie Morales
I was thinking the exact same thing. They do not need another lefty in the OF, plus getting Puig to play some CF and hopefully bounce back makes much more sense than Bruce for the mets. Cespedes and Puig in the same OF would be fun to watch
socalbaseballdude
Thunder12k I do think this makes a lot of sense from the Mets perspective. Playing with Cespedes, a big brother figure from Cuba, could be what Puig needs to reach his potential and if hot can really spark a lineup. This also makes sense for the Reds because they are trying to rebuild their starting pitching, and Wheeler could really help there. The Dodgers need a guy like Bruce….no doubt….but it would be hard for them to deal Puig to a top level NL team like the Mets, who beat them in the playoffs last year. I think any three team Bruce deal involving the Dodgers…with Puig in the deal…will be with an AL team like the A’s, Rays, Royals, or a struggling NL team like the Brewers or Phillies. The Dodgers want Bruce and need both starting pitching and relief help…the Reds need pitching help and an infield bat….so how about any of these possibilities:the A’s have Hill, Gray, Doolittle and Josh Reddick, the Rays have Archer, Odorizzi , Moore and E Ramirez and Steve Pearce, the Royals have I. Kennedy, W. Davis and Volquez, the Brewers have Jeffress, and the Phillies have V. Velasquez and Hellickson.
dhud
Yes, the Reds are trying to rebuild their starting pitching, but they are going to accomplish that from within. Their farm system is very pitching heavy and they have at least half a dozen candidates for 2 or 3 starting positions next year. It’s just a matter of who capitalizes on the opportunity.
The Reds will not be targeting pitching in any trade. Any potential deal will be centered around a bat
kidk44
What ever mets were thinking on lines of defense cespedes can play center seen it with my own eyes in citi field. Bruce would make more sense anyway from the point of lefties power plus wheeler is a very good insurance 6th starter under team could break l for next two to three years..not buying it
kidk44
Team control
BlueSkyLA
The Dodgers have played Puig in CF a little, but only when they had no other option. Take that as you may.
sunset117
Puig can play an average to maybe slightly above or below depending on his focus
dutch91701
Puig has been hitting since coming back from injury and can play a capable center field. He has the speed and glove for center and his fielding is really not as erratic as highlight shows would have you believe. Mets would be getting a good fill-in in center and a Puig trade would likely end up a steal for them.
agentp
Wouldn’t Gardner be a decent option for the Dodgers to target, plays well on both sides of the ball and despite the lack of gaudy power numbers puts up a decent WAR each year. Who would say no on a Gardner/ Puig swap?
arodgers661
Why would the Dodgers take on more money for the same player?
kidk44
Great point!!!!!
kidk44
Plus puig is 10 years younger
JRS-72
The Reds did such a terrible job with their offseason trades of Frazier and Chapman, I hope they are able to flip Bruce for a better return.
bledrules
You have no clue how the Frazier and Chapman trades will work out the guys are still in the minors and doing quite well
To say these were bad trades already is complete rubbish
JRS-72
I doubt you can back up that claim.
The Reds offseason moves were mostly driven by a high evaluation of Jose Peraza that is not supported by his minor league metrics.
None of the players in the Chapman trade are projected to be MLB regulars, They are bench players at best and more realistically organizational depth. The Yankees flipped him for for a top 25 prospect. It was a sell low move that was purely driven by panic on the Reds FO’s part after the first Peraza trade fell through because of Chapman’s legal issues.
The prospects for Frazier were better, but the potential success of that trade completely revolves around the assumption that Peraza will be more than just a speedy slap hitter. Schebler and the other players in the return also project as subs/depth.
In reality the Reds FO fixated on Peraza and ended up trading two All Star players on the hope that Peraza will be the next Dee Gordon. They were also unable to move Phillips (another bad contract), leaving their prized offseason acquisition blocked for at least a full season. It was honestly one of the most poorly managed off season efforts in the history of the organization.
redsfanman
The Frazier trade looks much better at this point than the Chapman trade. They’re thrown in together for the sake of a coherent anti-Reds narrative. In addition to Peraza, Schebler has been hitting really well in AAA for a while now, while Todd Frazier has put up a sub-.300 OBP in the past year. In hindsight the Reds should’ve traded Todd Frazier SOONER, but they were right not to hold onto him and trade him later. So far it looks like an average trade, rather than the historically awkward one it’s often portrayed as.
Yes, the Reds expressed a strong desire to trade Chapman. Then the scandal appeared, likely involving a suspension of an undetermined length. They had to make a tough decision – trade a guy when his value was down, or risk that he comes back hurt or something with no value at all. They gambled and lost big time. Hard decision at the time, without the benefit of hindsight.
BlueSkyLA
What’s the problem with a speedy slap hitter?
If you’ve figured out how to go back in time with the knowledge you have today please share the technique. The uncertainty surrounding Chapman’s legal problems was enormous (which is why the Reds’ original trade with the Dodgers fell through). The Yankees rolled the dice on him and got a good number. That’s about the most you can say without employing the Wayback Machine to give you the benefit of perfect hindsight.
JRS-72
Schebler has a small chance of becoming a MLB starter. He has a lot of MiLB stats to back that up. It isn’t impossible that he has a career upswing at 25-26, but in the majority of cases by this time we know who a hitter is and Schebler is a mediocre hitter with little plate discipline and good power. Who knows though, the Reds could catch lightning in a bottle.
We’ll see on Peraza. It can be ok to be a speedy slap hitter if you can increase your threat by taking walks or by consistently hitting it int he holes. But Peraza hasn’t developed either of those tools yet.
kidk44
Ha not from CUBS stand point!!!!
1tav
No way better the Mets give up Wheeler after waiting almost 2 years for him to come back, for OF that aren’t much of an upgrade over what they have already. If they have to make a move try to trade d’Arnard and Duda for Lecroy and Carter. Duda is a big upgrade for Mil at 1B so depending on their other offers for Lecroy, they may take.
kla1214
No chance. Duda is 30, Brewers are trying to get younger for the future.
1tav
I know what you mean on Duda, but they would be buying low on him and could flip him this offseason or next trade deadline. I’d hate to see the Mets sell low on him, but Loney’s been pretty good and they need an infusion bat like Lecroy without giving away the farm. Like I said it all depends on their other offers, and would get a replacement catcher in d’Arnard.
tkrause1968
Duda is a big upgrade? How?
baumer16
Ya this is an awful deal for the Brewers
AidanVega123
No chance MIL accepts that.
kidk44
Lecroy yes but if you are going all in go all in on some one under contract… Package something together that would include Braun and lecory. Then maybe you have something to work in wheeler on. Mets have 5 top 15 pitchers in the league it’s takes 3 1/2 top notch pitchers to winner series aka(royals) been proven time and time again. Braun (LF) cespedes (RF) grandees in(CF) I’d take that offense!!!!
mikeyst13
The fact that you keep calling Lucroy Lecroy doesn’t exactly bring strong merit to your argument.
dhud
1
hanks1hammer
I understand your reasoning but the Brewers would be taking some of Lucroy’s value and putting it into Duda’s ability to bounce back to make him a worthwhile flip. Why would they bother with that kind of risk when they are selling in a marked that’s desperate for a top catcher?
The Brewers will do much better than what you proposed.
kbarr888
Not really a Reds, Yankee, or Nats fan…….so I don’t know all of their farm systems……I .just love Baseball….so don’t hate…….lol
Thoughts on this 3-way trade……….
1…….Bruce to the Yankees (with a couple prospects like Stephenson & Rainey)……gives them some serious LH power for the short porch.
2…….Andrew Miller to the Nats….
3…….A.J. Cole & Andrew Lee to the Reds
4……Anderson Franco from the Nats to the Yankees……
Tough to know how each will be valued, but gives the Yankees a 3B for the future, the Reds get a couple high ceiling SP’s, and the Nats get their closer…….
jerrygarciainapouch
Reds are getting fleeced in that deal, giving up a year and a half of one of the premier power hitters in the game, a Top 50 OVR prospect and another prospect and getting two non prospects in return. Cole is 15th in the National System and has been struggling for years and Lee isn’t even Top 30.
redsfan19
Why would the Reds do that trade? First off neither Stephenson is going anywhere, both are big time prospects so it makes no sense to add one into a trade.
2nd off the Reds have lots of pitching and want bats. And in this situation the Reds would be giving up way more than they are getting…I guess with Walts history that is possible
redsaholic2020
So Nats get miller without giving up a top ten prospect and while the reds give up bruce and a top ten prospect for two lesser prospects??
bledrules
The Reds don’t need young starting pitching,they’ve got a ton of it with a lot mlb ready
They need young offense (not outfielders)
rr30
Lulz stay on MLB the Show making those trades. What a derp suggestion.
dhud
Reds won’t be targeting SP. Their farm system is very pitching heavy
ccremer2
The Yankees are trying to sell. They’re not trying to take on veterans. They want young talent. Bruce to the Yankees makes zero sense considering the yanks are trying to sell their own corner outfielder in Beltran
kbarr888
Beltran is an old man….and a FA after the season is over………Bruce is considerably younger, and has another 5-7 years as a productive player, at least.
Not even a reasonably fair comparison……smh
BigAlice
The Reds aren’t going to give up prospects, particularly not a top of the system guy like Robert Stephenson.
kbarr888
My fault..for some reason, I thought that Stephenson had performed badly when they called him up, but after reviewing his numbers, he obviously didn’t. My bad.
ccremer2
Plus there is no way that deal would be enough to pry Miller away from the Yankees
nats7
Sounds good-get Er done
onetricpony 2
Stephenson is a better prospect than Cole or Lee. Reds shoot this down with gufaws
redsfanman
Reds fans seem really fixated on a Jay Bruce-Alex Verdugo trade.
jerrygarciainapouch
Verdugo is not near enough for Jay Bruce. Verdugo is unlikely to be able to stay in CF, is not a plus runner or fielder, and the power is not there. The Reds need a legit power bat in return for Bruce. Bellinger would be a start, but even that’s not enough and word is he’s not available.
Sam.rhodes16
Bruce to Dodgers
Puig and Holmes to Braves
Touiasant and Bird to Reds
Idk just spitballing. I like Puig as a bounce back, and De Leon is too rich a target at this point.
kbarr888
Bruce (another LHB) to the Dodgers just sounds odd to me.
Puig has a much bigger upside, bats RH, and is considerably less expensive than Bruce. He’s under team control through 2019. Spend some of that money on counseling/coaching for him………turn him into a much better player, then trade him.
Bruce probably needs to go to the AL (with a contract extension)…….where he can flash his glove for a couple more years, then DH afterwards. I actually think they may not get a deal done before Aug 1…….
hanks1hammer
I get the impression things like extra coaching and counseling is not just available but insisted upon already and meanwhile, Puig has declined every year into his present league average production.
Maybe it’s time to cut bait.
BlueSkyLA
Puig’s play has improved by all other measures than the ones you see from only looking at the numbers. He has battled innumerable injuries, mainly hamstring sprains, causing him to lose a lot of playing time. That said it may well be time for the Dodgers to move on if they can swing an offensive upgrade in RF. Because he’s a lefty Bruce doesn’t seem to fit that bill on a team already overweighted in lefty bats and hitting barely over .200 against LHP.
sunset117
Puig has started taking the help from the Dodgers and early in the season made a point to have a better relationship with the coach and management. He’s had nasty injuries that aren’t his fault. I’m a Giants fan but everyone know Puig has more upside than Bruce, especially 2.5 years of Puig for 1.5 years of Bruce. Even with his mood issues I would take Puig for his flash in the pan
Thronson5
Why does a LHB going to the Dodgers not make sense to you? I don’t get it. Gonzales isn’t what he once was. Joc can’t hit. Grandal can’t hit. Saeger is the only lefty we have on the team that hits consistently. We have Howie who is hitting well from the right side, Turner who is hitting well from the right side and we also have Van Slyke off the bench who’s bat is also going better. We need a power lefty.
BlueSkyLA
I think you just presented the facts for how the Dodgers clearly need a power RHB.
sunset117
They need a power R bat more than anything at least that’s the reports they put ouy
BlueSkyLA
You don’t need to read any reports, just look at the team’s abysmal splits against LHP, which are about as bad as you’d expect from a team overloaded with LH bats. They need a RH bat for the middle of order.
theduke
The Reds have a 1B (Votto) so they don’t need Bird, and Touissant would be about their 6th rated SP prospect (Stephenson, Reed, Garrett, Mahle, Romano, and Davis are all in AA or above). No thanks.
southi
The Bird I think they were referring to is NOT the young Yankees firstbaseman who us injured. However it was the Braves young minor league high upside arm.
dsm6780
Holmes and Puig could get a lot more than Bruce. No way the Dodgers do that
kapnation08
Verdugo would be nice but it won’t happen. They would have to give up cingrani or Lorenzen as well to sweeten the deal
theduke
Then no Bruce for the Dodgers. The Reds won’t move him without getting a top 100 guy back as the centerpiece. They can decline his option, give him a qualifying offer and get a top 30 draft pick in that case. Or just keep him for 2017. Verdugo and Barnes for Bruce or take your chances with someone else.
BigAlice
Agreed.
The Reds have plenty of fringe talent on the farm. Either they get a top shelf prospect, or it makes more sense to keep Bruce.
…unless the Reds aren’t happy about Bruce, Duvall, and a suddenly resuscitated bullpen playing a little too well. 25 games out, they’ve suddenly become a team nobody wants to play.
Every W hurts draft position and pool money. Just sayin’…
dsm6780
Ok then keep Bruce. Your logic of “top 100 prospect or a top 30 pick” makes no sense. There is not guarantee a top 30 pick will ever be a top 100 prospect, and even smaller chances he will be immediately.
Verdugo is a top 5 prospect in one of the top farm systems. The story says they don’t want elite players. So Barnes 1-2 others gets it done, not Verdugo.
bubbafan
It’s ZACK
bubbafan
It’s ZACK Cozart. He spells his name Zack, not Zach.
Jeff Todd
Indeed.
Matt Galvin
Looks like Indians in lead to get Lucroy per Ken’s Rosenthal latest tweets so Ninmo,Smith,Montero,Catcher to Reds Bruce and SP?
BigAlice
If the Mets are willing to part with Brandon Nimmo for Jay Bruce, that deal will get done.
GarryHarris
Technically, his name is Zachary. He may sign his name ZacK (Don’t know) but, there’s nothing that says ZacK is the formal spelling of his nick name and ZacH is incorrect..
Tiger SS Owen Bush was always known a Ownie by his family, his friends and his team mates. Early in his career, the press made a mistake and spelled his name “Donie” Bush. He never bothered correcting the author. Some of the the media continued to call him Donie in print and some called him Owen in print. After his career, “Donie” Bush became the more prominent form of printing his name.
colt_17
I’m hearing D’Arnaud and Wheeler for Lucroy and Low-A prospect
sunset117
I would quickly do that from the mets side
hojostache
I hope not. They need to see what Wheeler has….almost two yrs w/o him.
fanmanstan
I got a three team trade…
Reds get:
Willie Calhoun (LAD prospect)
Tyler O’Neill (SEA prospect)
Dodgers get:
Jay Bruce
Steve Cishek
Mariners get:
Yasiel Puig
Brandon Finnegan
ShockIsHere
There is zero reason for the Orioles to even be included on this site, unless you want to put a blanket ‘are out’ under every thread.
Garmo87
If the Rangers would send Shin-Shoo Choo to LA for Puig, it would solve problems for both teams.
dsm6780
No it wouldn’t. Dodgers never do that deal
dsm6780
Verdugo Barnes and Puig for Bruce and Votto. Make is happen. Since reds fans want Verdugo so bad, this makes just as much sense at there offers
dsm6780
Their*
dhud
Votto has a full no trade clause and has expressed he’s not going anywhere.
In addition, Reds have no reason not desire to trade Votto. Not happening
dsm6780
Agreed. But it makes as much sense as “Verdugo and Puig and Holmes for Bruce” like some fans have been advocating for
GarryHarris
The best that can happen to Yasiel Puig is that he be traded to a small market team. Being traded to NY would spell disaster for Puig, the team he’s traded to and the fans. I think that Joey Votto would fit the Mets now. However, the Mets should keep with the plan that got them to last year… They are not better than they were last year. They’re banged up and need to improve at CF, LRP, 3B, 1B, (but I do like James Loney). and the Catching corps. Too many holes.
greenmonsternews
You can expect the Indians to check in with the Reds after missing out on Lucroy. That’s what the Mets and Rangers both did.
dhud
Bruce has just been pulled from today’s lineup “to give him the day off”
nats7
Nationals did nothing -Thier done.Getting closer for quality set-up guy,only makes us marginly better.Too inconsistent an offense,Suspect set up ——-Everyone else improved around us-Were done.Might win playoff spot -won’t get out of National League