Reports: Mets Will Acquire Jay Bruce
UPDATE 8/1, 4:10pm
The trade is apparently Bruce for Dilson Herrera and minor league pitcher Max Wotell. I’m not thrilled; I think Herrera will be a star.
Original post:
Multiple reports Monday say the Mets will acquire Reds slugging outfielder Jay Bruce. In return, the Mets will send Brandon Nimmo and two lower level prospects to Cincinnati.
Bruce is in the midst of the best season, batting .265 with 25 home runs and a league-leading 80 RBIs. He has resurrected his career after miserable seasons the past two years. He is 29 years old and has a $13 million team option for next season.
Bruce joins a crowded outfield that already has Yoenis Cespedes, Michael Conforto and Curtis Granderson in the corners. Bruce is a right fielder, which means Conforto or Granderson will have to man center, with one of them hitting the pine. Bruce is also a lefty hitter, which gives the Mets a definite left-leaning bent.
It was probably tough for Sandy Alderson to give up Nimmo, who was Alderson’s first draft pick as Mets GM and finally made the big leagues this season. But the Mets need help now, and Nimmo was not going to do what Bruce can potentially do for them.
The Mets nearly acquired Jay Bruce last year at the deadline for Zack Wheeler. Instead, they got Yoenis Cespedes. Now they have both without surrendering Wheeler or another major leaguer. Hopefully Bruce can put the Mets over the top, like Cespedes did last season.
Not sure Herrera will be much of a star, Mark. Whenever I saw him play, he was like Curly Howard chasing the ball around the infield. Sure, he had power, but so did Murph.
So, what do you think of Bastardo for Niese?
That’s the thing about prospects — everyone sees them differently and no one knows for sure. That’s why I am never opposed to trading them. But I still think Herrera is for real. Then again, I’ve thought that about a lot of busts over the years!
I have no problem with Bastardo for Niese. Bastardo was not very good and was signed for next season, so the Mets are free from that obligation. Niese pitched decently out of the bullpen in the playoffs, so the Mets can use him in that role. Or he can unseat Logan Verrett as the fifth starter until Wheeler comes back. Or they can just release him if he’s terrible. Low risk move for the Mets.