New York Mets: Are they stuck with Jay Bruce?
By Jason Evans
The New York Mets picked up Jay Bruce‘s 2017 option in case Yoenis Cespedes left. Now that they re-signed Cespedes are they stuck with Bruce?
The New York Mets could use some bullpen help for 2017. Jeurys Familia is probably going to get suspended for his domestic violence incident. Addison Reed is solid, but the thing is pieces like Jerry Blevins and Fernando Salas who were a part of last year’s bullpen are still free agents, but the Mets need cash to get them.
The problem is the Mets have $13 million tied into Jay Bruce, who is basically a luxury item at this point. The Mets were able to keep Cespedes and still have Curtis Granderson, former top prospect Michael Conforto and Juan Lagares. The problem is they don’t really have a centerfielder. Granderson played there last year after the trade but is 35 years old. Lagares is an exceptional centerfielder, but his bat declined and Conforto isn’t a centerfielder.
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The Mets thought they had a nice trade chip in Bruce that they could use this off-season. But the corner outfield market was flooded and still has some player available. The game of musical chairs has stopped and unless the San Francisco Giants don’t want to go with their internal options or the Texas Rangers want to try and trade for a bat, it doesn’t seem like the Mets have anywhere to deal Bruce to free up some cash.
Bruce never really got it going with the Mets after the trade, hitting just .219 with a .695 OPS in 50 games after hitting .265 with a .875 OPS and 80 RBI in 97 games with the Cincinnati Reds.
Unless the Mets are willing to pay some of Bruce’s salary I think they are stuck with him, but that may not necessarily be a bad thing. If David Wright comes back healthy with Jose Reyes helping out all around the infield along with Neil Walker, Asdrubal Cabrera and a healthy Lucas Duda to go with Cespedes, Bruce and Granderson it makes for a lineup that should be able to put up some crooked numbers. If that rotation is healthy, it can really lead to some good things.
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The Mets believe in Conforto and I do as well, but there isn’t a spot for him with Bruce on the roster at this point. The thing is though, injuries happen and a deal for Bruce could materialize during Spring Training.
Just because he isn’t dealt on January 18th doesn’t mean he wont be, however, I do think the Mets are stuck with Bruce for now, and it may not be such a bad thing.