Phillies: Trade wild-card player to fill wish list
By Tal Venada
Ace in the hole:
What value would another team see in Jay Bruce of the Phillies? And why would Klentak hesitate to include him in a package? Well, the exec would love to free up $12 million AAV to pick up hurlers, but the Fightins are only paying Bruce $1.65 million for 2020. Questions answered!
The Jays might accept Bruce and prospects for Ken Giles, who has an $8.4 million final arb estimate before free agency. However, the Reds could be a match for Herrera and Bruce with closer Raisel Iglesias, who has $8.04 million AAV for two seasons. But they want to keep him.
Because Cincinnati is looking for offense, they would only add $1.65 million for Bruce and $7.35 million for Herrera, but they would deduct $9 million for Iglesias without increasing their payroll. Meanwhile, the red pinstripes would get the bullpen piece needed and deduct $10.06 million AAV.
The Reds could fill their need in center field, and simultaneously they’d have more money to improve their squad. But will they part with a fireman who had a somewhat down campaign (that homer ball?) after three consecutive solid ones?
The Arizona Diamondbacks are another possible trade partner with southpaw Robbie Ray for Bruce and MiLB pitching. Basically, Ray is in his final campaign before free agency, and Arizona will probably move him. But they want young, controllable pitching, and they are looking for payroll flexibility.
Financially, the Diamondbacks would add $1.65 million with Bruce and deduct an estimated $10.8 million with Ray for $9.15 million in savings. As for the Fightins, they would lower their AAV by $1.2 million, acquire a three-slot arm, and gain time in the Gerrit Cole and Stephen Strasburg sweepstakes.