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The three-time All-Star has seen an uptick in production this year after a couple of down seasons, batting.265 with 25 home runs and a league-leading 80 RBIs. If he doesn’t have to miss significant time, he’ll get playing time in center field when the Mets face lefties-this was Juan Lagares‘ main role until he went down with a thumb injury last week.
Mets general manager Sandy Alderson said the success of the Yoenis Cespedes deal could have provided subconscious motivation for the club to try to replicate the same magic.
A Met for the first six years of his Major League career, Niese was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates for second baseman Neil Walker. Bruce has a team option for the 2017 season worth $13 million with a $1 million buyout.
For the 2nd straight season, the New York Mets acquired a big bat at the trade deadline.
The deal is not yet finalized, according to ESPN reports. When talks fell through, NY soon turned its attention to Cespedes. “You never know what’s going to happen until it actually happens”, said Bruce, who went 0-for-4 in the Mets’ 7-1 victory over the Yankees. While that seems hard to overcome, the team is just 2.5 games out of the Wild Card race, now held by the division rival Miami Marlins.
Bruce has also performed well in the clutch, batting.360 with runners in scoring position. “You’re a big, big piece”, manager Terry Collins said.
So yeah, the Birds avoid Bruce, but he could possibly hurt them even more with the Mets.
Conforto and Granderson should split time in the outfield. After finally getting him just before Monday’s nonwaiver trade deadline, GM Sandy Alderson acknowledged that he is not a ideal fit.
“We start with the need for offense and work from there”, the GM said. I think this year some small, small changes that I actually noticed the past two years – and being healthy – is key. “They talked about us losing 100 games at the beginning of the year, and s–, we’re damn sure trying, aren’t we?” Since being re-promoted, Conforto hasn’t really played much better. Bruce is just the latest to depart.
How will he help the Mets? The Mets entered Monday night’s Subway Series against the Yankees at 54-50, in third place in the National League East and 2 1/2 games out of the second wild-card spot.
Cincinnati is into its second year of rebuilding, trading any high-priced veteran it can.
The deal was announced two hours before the deadline for completing trades without waivers. The Reds tried to move Brandon Phillips, but he blocked a deal to the Nationals.
Bruce is also a below average defender.
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In exchange for Bruce, Cincinnati acquired infielder Dilson Herrera and left-hander Max Wotell. Bruce is a proven power hitter, and he is having one of his best seasons with the bat, posting an.875 OPS – which would be the best mark of his career if the season ended Monday – through 97 games.
