Cincinnati Reds right fielder Jay Bruce has been on the market all offseason. The Reds want to move him and Brandon Phillips to complete the tear down that began with the trade of Johnny Cueto last season. So far they haven’t found a match for Bruce that would help the Reds. Here are some options that would help the Reds and Bruce’s value to another team.
The Boston Red Sox are once again going into the season with Jackie Bradley as their starting center fielder. He’s similar to the Reds’ Billy Hamilton in that he plays an elite center field, but can’t hit the broad side of a barn with his bat. He is a defensive fourth outfielder, not a starting center fielder. If the Sox got Bruce, he could play right and Mookie Betts could be shifted to center. The swap would add needed power to the Sox lineup where the stadiums in New York and Baltimore favor left-handed pull hitters. For the Reds, a deal focusing on Brock Holt and either Henry Owens or Devin Marerro would help now and in the future. Send all three and the Reds would add Tony Cingrani to Boston’s already devastating bullpen.
Currently, the Los Angeles Angels have a platoon of Craig Gentry and Daniel Nava in left field. They also have a weak second base position. Sending Bruce and Phillips to the Angels for some young pitching would help both teams. C.J Wilson has been offered to teams for hitting. If the Angels offered Wilson and third base prospect Kyle Kubitza with another lower end prospect, they could have both Bruce and Phillips. The Angels may not want to take on the salary, but the Reds want to rid themselves of it.
The San Francisco Giants only have three outfielders with MLB experience on their 40-man roster. Hunter Pence is coming off of an injury, and Gregor Blanco is barely above replacement level. Bruce could fit nicely in left or right with Pence at the other. The two teams have had a good relationship over the past few months, with Mike Leake and Marlon Byrd ending up with the Giants in deadline moves last season. The Giants have a ton of young pitching, but Chris Heston or second base prospect Kelby Tomlinson would have to be included in the deal.
Where does that leave Bruce? In Cincinnati for 2016. The Reds want prospects, but the other teams don’t want to pay both for his salary and the prospects the Reds are looking for. Don’t be surprised if Bruce gets moved in July when a contending team gets desperate. Until then he’ll be patrolling right field in Great American Ballpark.
Nick Vorholt is a writer for www.RantSports.com covering the Cincinnati Reds.
