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New York Mets Rumors: Ball In Their Court For Jay Bruce?

By Kenneth Teape

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New York Mets Rumors: After the trade for Carlos Gomez fell through with the Milwaukee Brewers, the Mets could potentially move Zack Wheeler for another bat; Cincinnati Reds’ right fielder Jay Bruce.

It has been a rough 24 hours for the New York Mets. They not only lost two games, but also suffered through one of the most bizarre trade situations in the history of baseball. Their trade with the Milwaukee Brewers for Carlos Gomez in exchange for Zack Wheeler and Wilmer Flores fell apart at the last minute, but not before we were forced to uncomfortably watch the Mets trot out an obviously distraught Flores for at-bats and to field. Sandy Alderson was left with egg on his face, as the Mets added another reason for people to crack jokes at their expense.

But, he may have a chance to wipe that egg off his face and get the Mets the bat they so desperately need. According to Buster Olney, the ball is in the Mets court with the Cincinnati Reds being the trade partner.

After the trade fell through with the Brewers, it became clear that the Mets were willing to trade the injured Wheeler, who is recovering from Tommy John surgery. The Reds seem ready to take advantage of that, as they are in rebuilding mode and shipping off pieces.

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They already traded ace Johnny Cueto to the Kansas City Royals for a trio of left-handed pitching prospects, headlined by Brandon Finnegan and including Cody Reed and John Lamb. Acquiring Wheeler would give the Reds another high-upside arm to help replace Cueto, and potentially Mike Leake, who the team is also supposedly dangling prior to hitting free agency. Wheeler is not expected to return until July 2016 as he rehabs, but the Reds are a team that can afford to wait as they are in rebuilding mode.

For the Mets, Bruce would represent the big power bat they desperately need in the middle of their lineup. Lucas Duda has come alive of late at the plate, putting on a power surge with six home runs in his last five games and eight in July, but the Mets have received little else in the way of power this season. Curtis Granderson has added 16 and Flores as 10, as the trio are the only Mets with double-digit home runs as we approach August.

What also makes Bruce intriguing is that he is under contract through 2017, making him more than a rental for the Mets. He could become a linchpin in their lineup for the next two full seasons, giving them a legitimate power bat to pair with Duda in the middle of their lineup.

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In addition to what he would bring at the plate, he would also match defensively. Bruce is one of the best right fielders in baseball defensively, routinely ranking near the top in assists from right field and total zone runs in right field. His range factor is also above average, so the Mets would be upgrading not only offensively, but defensively as well if they added Bruce.

The price of Wheeler could be steep according to some people, but Bruce is arguably a better fit than Gomez would have been with the Mets. He is under team control longer than Gomez, and fits in better as the Mets really need a corner outfielder more than a centerfielder. Also, Bruce is a legit power bat; Gomez has power but at times seems better suited as a leadoff man. The price for Bruce also seems like it would be less for Bruce, as Gomez would have cost the Mets Flores as well as Wheeler.

Gomez would have caused more headaches for Terry Collins then solved problems making a lineup; if the Mets acquire Bruce, they know where they will be deploying him in the field and in the lineup everyday.

Next: 5 players the Mets could trade

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