Rumor: Philadelphia Phillies close to acquiring outfielder Jay Bruce
By Jake Starr
The Philadelphia Phillies and Seattle Mariners are reportedly nearing a deal to send outfielder Jay Bruce to the City of Brotherly Love.
The trade deadline is still nearly two months away, but the Philadelphia Phillies appear to be on the verge of bolstering their roster. General Manager Matt Klentak is set to begin a two-month quest to improve the Phillies roster as the postseason push gets underway.
Following the incident with Odubel Herrera, a need surfaced for another outfielder, and it appears the Phillies are set to fill that need in the next 24-hours.
Per Jeff Passan of ESPN, the Phillies are on the verge of acquiring Seattle Mariners outfielder Jay Bruce at some time within the next 24 hours. It is unclear at the moment what the Mariners will be asking for in return.
The Philadelphia Phillies are nearing a deal to acquire outfielder Jay Bruce from the Seattle Mariners, a club source familiar with the talks tells ESPN. The trade is expected to be finalized within the next 24 hours.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) June 1, 2019
Bruce is only hitting .212 on the season but has slugged 14 home runs, which would lead the Phillies. The expectation would be that Bruce would play in left field and also would be looked at as a left-handed power bat off the bench.
Nick Williams has underperformed this season, and this deal will look to make him the odd man out, once again. Williams could either be included in this trade or sent back down to triple-A as the acquisition of Bruce makes him dispensable.
Bruce did have a no-trade clause in his contract, but per Ken Rosenthal of “The Athletic,” Bruce will waive the no-trade clause to join the Phillies.
#Phillies in talks to acquire Jay Bruce from #Mariners, sources confirm to me and @MattGelb. Bruce will waive no-trade clause for PHI. First with discussions: @JeffPassan.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) June 1, 2019
Bruce, 32, is in the second season of a three-year contract he signed with the New York Mets prior to the 2018 season. He was traded to Seattle this past offseason and is set to be traded for the second time in less than one year.
Being due $14 million this season, and next, it is not surprising to see Seattle shed Bruce’s salary. The Marines had a very hot start, but have fallen off since and appear set to be sellers at this year’s trade deadline.
The Phillies will obviously be heavy buyers at the trade deadline as they have many needs to fill, including bench bat and bullpen, as well as starting pitching. Acquiring Bruce will help fill the team’s need in the outfield and off the bench.
Philadelphia has been interested in Bruce dating back to his Mets days, and it appears that he will soon be a Phillie. It also looks like the Phillies will take on most of Bruce’s contract, but obviously, a deal has not yet been agreed upon.
Sources indicate the deal is not yet agreed upon. But the teams are talking and the Phillies have had interest in Bruce for years dating back to Mets days. https://t.co/LOCiCSWJqo
— Matt Gelb (@MattGelb) June 1, 2019
Bruce made his major league debut as a 21-year-old back in 2008 with the Cincinnati Reds. He quickly burst on the scene but was never the star player many thought he would be. Still a solid player, he would be a nice addition for the Phillies.
He was traded to the Mets during the 2016 season, and after a year there Bruce was dealt to the Cleveland Indians but signed back with the Mets prior to the 2018 season. Now after less than a half season in Seattle, Bruce will be headed east to the “City of Brotherly Love.”
Next. Making a case for the Philadelphia Phillies’ 2019 All-Stars. dark
It will be Bruce’s fifth team and fourth team in two-years, but it looks like Bruce and the Philadelphia Phillies could be the perfect fit for each other.