Yesterday, the Mets tried to replicate their 2015 mojo by acquiring a power-hitting corner outfielder shortly before the non-waiver trade deadline, acquiring Jay Bruce from the Reds for second baseman Dilson Herrera and left-handed pitching prospect Max Wotell. But Bruce has had 188 plate appearances with runners on base, higher than Asdrubal Cabrera, who leads the Mets with 169, Cespedes (162) and Neil Walker (155). While the team ultimately fell short in the Jonathan Lucroy sweepstakes, Jay Bruce is a nice consolation prize to plug into the middle of their lineup.
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The moves follow last year’s trade-deadline acquisition of Cespedes, whose offensive spark helped the Mets reach the World Series for the first time since 2000.
According to the ESPN.com report, in the trade, which is pending physicals, the Reds get a number of prospects, including outfielder Brandon Nimmo, according to ESPN’s Adam Rubin. In fact, the Mets were seriously pursuing the Cincinnati slugger after their deal for Carlos Gomez fell apart at the last minute at last season’s deadline. It’s always kind of players vs. team. It’s an issue the Mets will have to deal with not only this year, but next year, when Granderson enters the final season of his contract and the Mets are sure to have Bruce after exercising his $13 million option. The Mets acquired Yoenis Cespedes last July 31.
Bruce will love it here in NY, as the fans are behind their team. The New York Mets rate as the worst in Major League Baseball in the metric.
The good thing for the Mets, however, is that they aren’t acquiring Bruce for his defense. NY has been busy selling over the past week, trading relievers Aroldis Chapman and Andrew Miller, so it seems likely they’ll give up Beltran for the right price.
Bruce’s nine seasons in Cincinnati bore 232 dingers, 718 RBI, 238 doubles, and 1116 hits, and the RF produced 16.1 bWAR in his time with the Reds. Of particular interest to the Mets, Bruce is a.360 hitter with runners in scoring position.
Bruce is batting.265 with 25 home runs and a league-leading 80 RBIs.
“I feel like myself again”, said Bruce, who dealt with a knee injury in 2014 that he believes might have impacted him past year as well.
And speaking of the future, the Mets didn’t exactly escape from this deal with their full deck of top prospects.
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The Blue Jays seem like unlikely suitors due to their power hitting, although the outfield will be abit more complete with Bruce at right field. They have too many injuries and not enough certainty. They’re off the hook now for over $4 million this season, along with the $13 million that is owed to him next season. At least this trade has some logic to it from both ends. The 23-year-old outfielder is hitting at a.336 clip with seven homers and 45 RBI for Triple-A Las Vegas.
