Royals interested in Bruce?

[Chuckie]

I'm just happy Bruce has raked this year and has increased his trade value.

For those that could've had him during the offseason for pennies on the dollar, I have to say ....

Shake it off.

[Bill]

I agree with others that any deal with the ChiSox for Bruce would have to include Anderson coming to the Reds and that ain't happening.

I really like Zimmer/Frazier as targets and would be willing to off the Tribe their choice of one (maybe two - Reds choice) young pitchers from among Lorenzen, Davis, Romano, Mahle, Travieso, Stephens, etc.. I might even be willing to include Stephenson if the Indians offered up another very useful asset from their side of things.

The Indians have more young pitching than the Reds but it is a good idea to try to wrestle away one of the Tribes top OFs. Like the Reds but more so, Cleveland needs OFs at the big league level.

What they do need is cash as their current payroll includes payoffs for Swisher, Bourn and Johnson. Paying some of Bruce's salary would bring more in return (but still not a top 25 OF).

Byrd's replacement has homered in his last three games and has a .960 OPS. Naquin is buying them time to look for the right deal.

Speaking of Naquin, he may be a more realistic option in a Bruce deal. He is a line drive hitter (usually) with good contact and on base skills, a strong arm that can play center but is most suited for right. The former 1st rounder has good speed too. Add in one of their pitching prospects and one of their many SS prospects. Holt would have to go back their way as they would still need a 4th OF after the OF swap.

[Patrick Bateman]

The Indians have more young pitching than the Reds but it is a good idea to try to wrestle away one of the Tribes top OFs. Like the Reds but more so, Cleveland needs OFs at the big league level.

What they do need is cash as their current payroll includes payoffs for Swisher, Bourn and Johnson. Paying some of Bruce's salary would bring more in return (but still not a top 25 OF).

Byrd's replacement has homered in his last three games and has a .960 OPS. Naquin is buying them time to look for the right deal.

Speaking of Naquin, he may be a more realistic option in a Bruce deal. He is a line drive hitter (usually) with good contact and on base skills, a strong arm that can play center but is most suited for right. The former 1st rounder has good speed too. Add in one of their pitching prospects and one of their many SS prospects. Holt would have to go back their way as they would still need a 4th OF after the OF swap.

Naquin is a savvy target if Bruce's market value doesn't give rise to one of the higher ceiling players. Naquin is certainly a guy that could be added to the mix and perhaps the sum of his parts could equal more than just a reserve.

[WrongVerb]

Well drink a cranberry juice

#TheDeparted

Careful. You're not quite a guy I can't hit.

/great movie

[Ghosts of 1990]

Love that we are talking Naquin's and Mondesi Jr's for Bruce now that he looks like a star. If we were a good organization we would indeed keep him at a reasonable price and see if an extension can get done.

Since we aren't, we'll settle for a Naquin or a Mondesi Jr. or a Moscot 2.0 with another chip in that never sees the light of day in the Majors, I'm sure. And we'll move right along being what we've mostly always been. Bruce is back as an offensive force, possibly going to have a career year. It's negligible to just ship him off at this point as he's still young enough to be part of the next run.

[Bill]

Naquin is a savvy target if Bruce's market value doesn't give rise to one of the higher ceiling players. Naquin is certainly a guy that could be added to the mix and perhaps the sum of his parts could equal more than just a reserve.

I thought Naquin was a reach taken mid round in the 1st but he has taken advantage of his chances this year including his play in spring training. I can see him averaging .290 with 12 HR, .360 OBA and 15 steals. Sort of Johnny Damon lite but with a better arm, if all goes well and he stays healthy.

[Wonderful Monds]

Well drink a cranberry juice

#TheDeparted

[smash]

[OGB]

Like many here, I've banged the Jay Bruce drum since the day he was drafted. I think trading him at his high point is the right move, but the pensive Cincy fan in me thinks he'll leave and become that 975 OPS stud we've wanted over the next few years.

[Wonderful Monds]

Yeah I'm fully in the "resign him" boat. Have been since before the season started, before just for the sake of SOME continuity, but now there's a good reason for it beyond just sentimentality.

[WVRedsFan]

I guess two schools of thought on Jay. One school is waiting for the drop off the earth slump and another is so elated that he is doing well that they want to extend him. I'm in the middle. I'm the guy who thought the burnt earth method was not the way to go. Cueto and Leake had to go, but the trades of Frazier and Chapman without adequate attention to the bullpen doomed the Reds to a historic losing season. Adding to those moves is the injuries. This winning streak probably soothes the animal in all of us, but what we got for Frazier and Chapman were and in the future are a bet at best and probably not the best moves. So be it. What's done is done. My view is that Bruce's history is well known and there is little you can get for him. If the right deal came along that would be beneficial to the Reds, then fine. Trouble is that probably won't happen. Jay is young and cheap, but if you give him away, what did you do? I'm just so glad that I don't make the decisions. It's way above my pay grade, but regardless of my ignorance of what many think is modern baseball thinking, I don't see a way for the Reds to come out of any trade with anything that would be, yes beneficial, to the Reds.

[corkedbat]

Love that we are talking Naquin's and Mondesi Jr's for Bruce now that he looks like a star. If we were a good organization we would indeed keep him at a reasonable price and see if an extension can get done.

Since we aren't, we'll settle for a Naquin or a Mondesi Jr. or a Moscot 2.0 with another chip in that never sees the light of day in the Majors, I'm sure. And we'll move right along being what we've mostly always been. Bruce is back as an offensive force, possibly going to have a career year. It's negligible to just ship him off at this point as he's still young enough to be part of the next run.

Can't believe the number of people that would keep and extend Bruce. First of all there is no "reasonable price" for Jay, he's making $12M+ as it is and that's all ready too much by at least a third. Can't see him turning around and accepting much, if anything less than he's now making (especially from the Reds) until the market forces economic reality on him. Even if he were amenable to a "reasonable" 4yr/$32M contract, why would the Reds want to offer it? Even if your willing to accept that his early 2016 offensive performance is his "new norm," his defense is deteriorating at such a rapid rate that any extension by a team without a regular need of a DH is taking a terrible risk and banking on a continuation of his current production with the bat is fool's gold.

Deal him while he's at the apex of his Dead Cat Bounce to an AL team that can stick him at DH when needed and get your best possible return.

BTW, I'd gladly take Naquin(+) if it comes right down to it - (LF) Winker (CF) Naquin (RF) Duval. I'd send Billy down to and have him hit RH until September unless there's an injury.

[Ron Madden]

All I'm saying is.. If we can't get equal value back in any trade for Bruce, I'd keep him.
Pick up his option for next season and go from there..

If another team wants to make a fair trade over the winter or at the deadline next season you can always do that.
But there is no way I'd make a deal knowing the return would be a disappointment.

If you want to pick up his option for next season and then let him walk at the end of the year, you can do that too.

[KronoRed]

Yeah I'm fully in the "resign him" boat. Have been since before the season started, before just for the sake of SOME continuity, but now there's a good reason for it beyond just sentimentality.

We have Votto and Bailey for our continuity and connection to the glory days.

[kpresidente]

We have Votto and Bailey for our continuity and connection to the glory days.

I'd rather have Jay Bruce than Homer Bailey. We have plenty of pitching in the system but RF is a giant gaping chasm. But don't throw me into the sign Jay Bruce camp because of that. I only like it if he comes relatively cheaply and there are no good trades out there. The blogger who first brought up the idea put a hypothetical $14M annual salary on him and I think I'd to that.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[CRDB40]

Jay is young and cheap, but if you give him away, what did you do?

Bruce is neither that young (29 years of age means the downside of his peak years) nor that cheap (he's the 9th most expensive RF for this season with a $13 MM option for next season).

For a team with the market size of the Reds, holding onto a guy too long or keeping a non-elite guy for that kind of money, is detrimental to the long-term success of the team.