Cincinnati Reds, Los Angeles Dodgers Discussing Jay Bruce

Jul 24, 2016; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Reds right fielder Jay Bruce (32) shakes hands with shortstop Jose Peraza (9) prior to a game with the Arizona Diamondbacks at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 24, 2016; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Reds right fielder Jay Bruce (32) shakes hands with shortstop Jose Peraza (9) prior to a game with the Arizona Diamondbacks at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports

The latest rumor involving Jay Bruce would be a three team trade that includes the Los Angeles Dodgers. Could the Cincinnati Reds receive Yasiel Puig in exchange for Bruce?

Yasiel Puig and Jay Bruce have both been in the news recently, but for much different reasons. Puig had an issue with MLB over his Vin Scully cleats. There was also an issue with his attitude both on and off the field with the Dodger organization. Jay Bruce has been one of the hot trade commodities in baseball since the start of the season. Now, it is looking like the Cincinnati Reds and Los Angeles Dodgers may be teaming up for a trade revolving around Bruce and Puig.

The trade was discussed at length, but according to Jeff Passan on Twitter things “didn’t materialize.” For the Reds, this would be a fantastic deal. They would get rid of Bruce, acquire some prospects as well as a ticket selling player in the process.

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Puig will bring people into the stadium even if the Reds are having a terrible season. Cincinnati has been looking to get rid of Bruce since the 2015 trade deadline, and now they may have their match. If the Reds are going to make a trade for Bruce, this is it because they are not going to find a better situation for them.

For the Dodgers, trading Puig for Bruce is ridiculous and completely unnecessary. Yes, Puig has had his issues as a person, but giving up a significant sum of prospects simply because of a slight character issue is not worth it. The Dodgers have a pretty good farm system, and they should not ruin that system simply because someone in the organization does not like Puig.

The Reds and Dodgers both want to trade Bruce and Puig respectively. For Los Angeles, trading Puig may be an impulse decision. For Cincinnati, trading Bruce would be a welcome step forward in the rebuilding process. Either way, the Dodgers know more about their locker room than anyone else, so their decision to go after Bruce for Puig will depend on that situation.

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Of course, if the Dodgers do not want to give up the prospects then this will not happen. That said, they are Dodgers, so do not expect this rumor to die down until the trade deadline passes.