After a snag in the medical reviews of a Mets prospect derailed an earlier version of the trade, the Mets and Reds announced today that Jay Bruce has been traded to Cincinnati in exchange for minor league second baseman Dilson Herrera and minor league left-hander Max Wotell.  Top outfield prospect Brandon Nimmo was originally said to be in the deal, and while he wasn’t the player whose medicals sank the first iteration of the trade, he is no longer included in this version.
Bruce, 29, now has the chance to join Cespedes in the New York outfield. The career-long Red is in the midst of not just a resurgent season at the plate, but the finest offensive season he’s ever produced. Bruce is batting .265/.316/.559 with 25 homers, 22 doubles and six triples this season while playing on a reasonable $12.5MM salary. He’s still owed about $4.3MM of that sum through season’s end, and his contract comes with a $13MM club option for the 2017 season as well.
Cincinnati came close to moving Bruce during Spring Training in a supposed three-team deal, but medical reviews of some of the minor leaguers involved torpedoed the deal. That looks quite fortuitous for Cincinnati now, as Bruce’s huge season has rebuilt his trade stock substantially. Bruce underwent arthroscopic knee surgery early in the 2014 season and rushed back in less than a month, and he didn’t look like himself at the plate in either 2014 or 2015 (combined .222/.288/.406 slash line). Now, he’ll be moved for a stronger package of young talent than he’d have fetched about four months ago.
Bruce will provide the Mets with a power bat to slot into the corner outfield mix, although his acquisition likely pushes some combination of Curtis Granderson and Michael Conforto into center field due to Yoenis Cespedes’ now-infamous preference to remain in left field. Certainly, that defensive alignment is sub-optimal, as Bruce’s defensive ratings have plummeted this season, but the Mets have long appeared more concerned with ratcheting up their offensive production (e.g. placing Yoenis Cespedes in center field, signing Asdrubal Cabrera to play shortstop) and seem content to live with a sub-par defensive alignment in order to achieve that end.
Herrera, 22, is no longer considered a “prospect” because he’s tallied 169 big league plate appearances, but he becomes a vital future piece for the Reds and is the unequivocal centerpiece of this deal. The 22-year-old has batted just .215/.308/.383 in his limited big league playing time, but he’s yet to receive an opportunity to play on a regular basis. One would imagine that the Reds will afford him with that opportunity in the near future, giving them a look at a player that has been pegged by many scouting reports as a possible big league regular. Herrera is a career .300/.354/.485 hitter in 753 Triple-A plate appearances, displaying a blend of power and speed that has resulted in 24 homers and 19 steals at that level. Brandon Phillips is blocking him at second base, but it’s conceivable that the Reds’ long-term middle infield tandem will consist of Herrera and Jose Peraza. Whether or not that duo lines up in the middle infield, they both figure to be key factors in the Reds’ emerging young core.
Wotell, 19, has already been slotted in as Cincinnati’s No. 22 prospect by Jonathan Mayo and Jim Callis at MLB.com. He’s yet to pitch above Rookie ball since being selected in the third round of last season’s draft, though he has a solid 3.57 ERA with 10.5 K/9 against 4.7 BB/9 in 40 1/3 innings between the Gulf Coast League and Appalachian League. Callis and Mayo write that he sits 90-91 mph with his heater but can touch 95 and has room to add to his 6’3″ frame. Wotell’s breaking ball has plus potential but he needs to smooth out his delivery and work on his command, the MLB.com duo notes.
Buster Olney and Jerry Crasnick of ESPN, FOX’s Ken Rosenthal and Joel Sherman of the New York Post did a great deal of the reporting on the initial trade. Olney reported that a restructured deal was close to completion (Twitter link). Yahoo’s Jeff Passan reported originally called the Mets the favorites and said that the restructured deal was done (via Twitter). Rosenthal tweeted that Herrera was in the deal instead of Nimmo. MLB.com’s Jonathan Mayo tweeted that Wotell was the second player going to Cincinnati.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Ouch. Much steeper price
It is but at the same time the mets have Rosario and Cecchini too.
And Wilmer, who also plays 2B.
Herrera really isn’t all that. I’ve been watching him closely for the last couple of years. He hasn’t really developed as a power hitter or as a base stealer. I keep waiting for him to do something and it never really materialized. We will have to wait and see, but I don’t see him as ML regular. I don’t see this as a huge price for Bruce. I’m more concerned with the fact that he is yet another lefty corner outfielder and they still don’t have a center fielder.
What?? .300/.354/.485 slash line with 24 home runs, 105 RBI, 47 doubles, 4 triples, and 19 stolen bases in just over a season’s worth of games at AAA is extremely good for a 22 year old middle infielder. Yes, he isn’t a prolific or even efficient base stealer, but he hits well above average at a premium position. What exactly are you watching?
Let’s goo!
with Nimmo? Or instead of Nimmo?
Adam Rubin says on Twitter that Nimmo is hanging out with Mets hitting coaches at the batting cages right now (3:45 EST).
Is he in tears?
He’s gearing up to hit an extra innings walk-off homerun, I hope!
Maybe Nimmo and Herrera for Bruce.
Wow. Herrera is worth far more than any low class A prospect the mets were originally planning on giving up.
Sounds like instead of Nimmo and 2 low prospects it’s now Herrera and possibly 1.
So the Mets let Murphy walk because Hererra is the 2b of the future. Now we trade him for a player we have no room for. What is turbofan for second base after this season, Reyes? Is Bruce going to replace Cespedes after he opts out and the Mets refuse to pay him? I hate this deal.
This is, the WORST trade the Mets have made since Kazmir for Zambrano. Holy god.
At least you gave it time before judging the results.
If it doesn’t include Nimmo (which it doesn’t appear to now), then I must disagree.
Zambrano?
Exactly, Victor Zambrano…..oh never heard of him?? More proof the mets got hosed
Nah, it’s not close to as bad. Zambrano was injured and the Mets had no other comparable pitchers to Kazmir. In the middle infield, the current org has Wilmer, Cheech, and Rosario, and Bruce is on pace for 40 HR.
I almost commented Herrera in return in the last Bruce pat until I saw Nimmo going back…
Sounds like Dilson instead of Brandon just one not both
Wow! Respect to Cincy, they came back and got an even better package out of this.
didn’t we not re-sign Murphy because we didn’t want to clog 2B for him? What’s our long term plan in the infield?
Crap deal for the Reds. Much rather have seen them get Nimmo and I thought that was a bad deal for them. Herrera at best looks like a utility player.
You’re way off on Herrera. He’s already been a better than average hitter in the Major Leagues at his position as the youngest position player in the sport. Come on, now.
better than average hitter? is .200 considered average? got a great proven player in Jay Bruce given up for looks like nothing in return. reds got hosed
You take issue with his use of above average and then call Jay Bruce a great hitter.
Have to love the commenting here this time of year.
Looks to me like he said great proven player, not just a great hitter. Jay is that, and this season he has been a great hitter.
Great proven player is even more off. At best, he’s a scratch defender. Great hitter is a huge exaggeration of any season of Bruce unless you have a very low standard of greatness.
Rosario is ranked higher than Herrera. But it’s now or never… All contending teams are going all- in ..
It is Nimmo and Herrera.
ESPN just said both Nimmo and Herrera?
This was better for Mets as Nimmo
Long time reader, never commented until I registered just now.
I hate this trade. Nimmo and Hererra is a ridiculous overpay for Bruce.
I like this trade for the Mets. Gave up 2 slightly above replacement level players for some badly needed offense.
it’s on Herrera which is stupid on the reds part like always what a joke please fire jocketty
So it was originally Nimmo, Wotell, and another player but now it is just Herrera and Wotell? The Reds already have a better version of Herrera in Jose Peraza and they don’t even have a place for him to play. Where in the world are they going to fit Herrera? Man, Walt Jocketty needs to just stop trading
My thoughts exactly, wtf is going on in the Reds FO?
jocketty is a joke he needs to be fired for real I think the cardinals still pay him to do stupid crap like this
No need to fire him, this is his last year. He’s not even GM.
I agree, pitiful deal for cincy
Herrera and Wotel, no Nimmo. Isn’t that a good thing, Mets fans? I’d rather keep Nimmo with that Rosario/Cecchini middle infield combo on the way.
Well Mets traded a future Hall of Famer for a .249 career hitter. 25 years from now, and 3000 hits later Herrerra will talk about this trade in his Hall of Fame speech.
Wow that high on Herrera?
It’s a Yankee fan; he’s just saying stuff to rip on the Mets.
a player like Bruce? lol check the stats pal and above that he’s a great outfielder with a big arm
you must be drunk
Guess this means Peraza at SS and Herrera at 2nd base for the Reds in 2018 (and maybe 2017 depending on Cozart and Phillips.)
Unless Sauce-Rod learns to hit.
Why would they give up Dilson for Bruce but not Lucroy? Lucroy is also controllable next year, plays a position of much greater need, is paid less money, and has the potential to make every pitcher better with his superior receiving skills.
Don’t get it.
Because Dilson and a Minor Leaguer is a much, much smaller package than Dilson, d’Arnaud, Nimmo, and a Minor Leaguer.
If you are a Mets fan, shouldn’t you be changing your handle now that Mejia is long gone?
Herrera has a chance to be an outstanding ballplayer. Nimmo will never be more than a fourth outfielder. When you have a bad ball club, you don’t worry about filling holes. You worry about accumulating as many good young players as you can, and then a couple years down the road, when your team is better, you can trade or use free agency for the holes.
Two years from now, DatDude will be gone (thank god) and Cozart will have been traded, so you’ll have both middle infield spots available. Suarez, Peraza, Herrera, and Sauce-Rod (Alfredo Rodriguez, who is close to Ozzie Smith with the glove but more like Anna Nicole Smith with the bat) will compete for them, with at least one getting dealt. Hopefully, by then, top 2016 pick Nick Senzel will be ready at 3B (he is raking at Dayton in A ball).
+1 to everything you said. Reds fan’s complaining like it would be the worst thing in the world to have 3 or 4 everyday middle infielders, many teams would love to have 2…
The Herrera and Wotell package was definitely better than Nimmo, Wotell, 3rd wheel. Herrera has the upside to be a 20-20 2B and Nimmo has AAAA ballplayer written all over him. I still think this wasn’t enough for an elite power hitter like Jay Bruce but I’m kinda glad the Reds got the deal done finally for Jay’s sake, no player deserves to be the center of trade talks for a year and a half and be traded 3 times only to have it get stopped let alone someone as classy as Jay Bruce. Mets are getting a good player on the field, and a great person off of it. Best of luck Jay!
I’m surprised that Herrera was traded, but really relieved that Nimmo wasn’t.
we all fail to realize prospects are just that. for every mike trout and manny machado there are 10x more matt laporta’s amd donavon tate’s. herrera HAS THE POTENTIAL to be good, not great. im sure the mets can find a player that can be better than him in free agency for about 9-10 mil a year.. that being said, i think the same could be said for nimmo too. that being said, considering the hauls the yanks for relievers and beltran, the mets did well to give up what they did. rosario is the gem in the organization. herrera would be a serviceable starter at best
First Joke-etty forgot to have a bullpen. Now he has forgotten to have an outfield. He has also forgotten the need for ticket buying fans. Just after the announcement that we got ANOTHER middle infielder I got an email announcing $6 tickets for the Cardinals series. Perfect.
Well….as a lifelong Reds fan, I’m not happy about the deal. I see a lot of posts here ripping the deal, but let me just say this. Most trades can’t be judged for several years. I know it’s fun to speculate, but I bet any Mets fan would love for Bruce to continue his season the same way he’s produced for us. He’s leading the league in RBI’d in a last place team. Geez man
Who hires these people. Some of these writers are more stupid than the posters on this board. What wrong with this head line anyone find it? LMAO
QUOTE FROM THE HEADLINES ON TOP “the Mets and Reds announced today that Jay Bruce has been traded to Cincinnati in exchange for minor league second baseman Dilson Herrera”
Smoking that St.L ditch weed again Steve?
Then don’t visit the site… No one is forcing you to be here.
Bfd…I
Not important…just figure it out.
Bruce is a lousy all around player who’s had a great 2/3rds of year in the power department, while playing in a hitters’ paradise. He’s also a poor fit (to say the least). Another poor defender. Another lefty hitting corner OF. All the Mets get really is an excuse not to spend money in the coming off season signing real high end players for multiple years. Then again, maybe that’s all Fred really wanted.
Talk about the Mets being a year to late. Maybe if they have Bruce with last year’s team it puts them over the top.
Long time reader here, i’m only coming because I am embarrassed about many of the Reds fans Who insist on spewing but I’ll rather than contributing to this forum.
Come on guys it’s not like were Red Sox fans or anything
Mets fans, Bruce’s defensive numbers hurt by Billy Hamilton catching everything in center, he is not a bad outfielder. Other then Votto, no one on Reds gets on base, leading league in rbi impressive coming from a low scoring team, the Reds are not the Red Sox.
Reds fans, Herrera may have hit .205 in limited ab’s, his OBS is still 30 points higher then Phillips and it looks like he is willing to walk.
perraza was sent down, he looks like a bad version of Phillips. I think Phillips is horrible especially for $17m.
perraza may be able to hit enough to play SS, doesnt look like it from his history.