New York Mets Acquire Jay Bruce From Cincinnati Reds
The New York Mets are on the verge of acquiring outfielder Jay Bruce from the Cincinnati Reds, but medicals seem to be holding up the deal.
The New York Mets were active at the MLB Trade Deadline last season, acquiring Yoenis Cespedes from the Detroit Tigers to bolster their downtrodden lineup. After saying throughout most of the season they wouldn’t be making a big move at the deadline this season, the Mets changed course and have acquired Jay Bruce from the Cincinnati Reds.
Bruce has spent his whole nine-year career with the Reds thus far, but will now be heading to Queens to play a corner outfield spot for the Mets. In exchange for Bruce, the Mets will send outfield prospect Brandon Nimmo and two low-level prospects to the Reds.
The news was broken by MLB Network Insider Joel Sherman of the New York Post.
It is Nimmo and 2 lower-level prospects for Bruce. #Mets #Reds
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) August 1, 2016
The 29-year old Bruce is leading the National League in RBI this season with 80, to go along with 25 home runs and 60 runs scored. He has also put together a slash line of .265/.316/.559.
Bruce has been a streaky hitter in his career with the Reds, as he is a career .249 hitter, but he has always been able to provide power to the lineup. He has averaged 26 home runs per season in his career with the Reds, something the Mets will love to add to the middle of their lineup.
The Mets are one of the worst offensive teams in baseball, ranking ahead of only the Atlanta Braves and Philadelphia Phillies for runs scored in the National League and major league baseball altogether.
But, the deal is not yet official as medicals are still being exchanged. That is the hold up right now is the medicals, as they have become more than a formality according to ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick.
Source says a medical issue might be holding up the Bruce deal between #Mets and #Reds. Stay tuned.
— Jerry Crasnick (@jcrasnick) August 1, 2016
Not sure if it's small or something more significant, but the medicals in Bruce trade have become more than a formality. #Reds #Mets
— Jerry Crasnick (@jcrasnick) August 1, 2016
Yahoo Sports columnist Jeff Passan pointed out that Nimmo had a torn tendon in his foot earlier in the season, which could be what is holding up the deal at this point.
This deal for Bruce is beginning to become similar to what happened to the Mets last season when they thought they acquired Carlos Gomez from the Milwaukee Brewers last season for Wilmer Flores and Zack Wheeler. Medicals saw that deal fall apart as well, and there is a chance that happens this season again to the Mets.
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The Mets are hoping that Bruce can deliver them a spark similar to what Cespedes did last season, but they will need to clear the hurdle of medicals and physicals being clean before anything can become official.