The Mets have a glut of outfielders this year, and it’s no secret they would like to deal Jay Bruce, who arrived at the trade deadline last season from the Reds for high-rated prospect Dilson Herrera. What would be a good landing spot for the corner outfielder who will turn 30 this year? It just might be in Atlanta.
The Braves do not have a glut of outfielders. In fact, as of this writing, there are exactly three on their 40 man roster, 32 year old Matt Kemp in left, 26 year old Ender Inciarte in center, and 33 year old Nick Markakis in right.
Kemp is productive in left, he played in 156 games last year with 35 homers and 108 RBI in a year split between the Padres and the Braves. Inciarte is a rising star who hauled down a gold glove last year. Markakis has had a good career but he is winding down, his slash line in 2016 was .269/.346/.397 with 13 homers. That homer number actually an improvement, in 2015 he hit only three while playing 156 games.
Bruce, though he played poorly for the Mets in 2016, did end up with 33 homers overall, 25 with the Reds and eight for the Mets. Bruce would provide a distinct power upgrade over Markakis in right. Markakis might well fit in as a fourth outfielder at this stage of his career, he is a two-time gold glove winner.
The Braves are moving into a brand new stadium this season, Suntrust Park. It’s dimensions look friendly for a left handed power hitter like Bruce, at 325 ft. in the right field corner and just 375 feet in the right center power alley. With Bruce, the Braves would have a dangerous middle of the order with left handed slugger Freddie Freeman batting third, the right handed Kemp at cleanup and Bruce batting fifth.
The Braves had a poor record in 2016, at 68-93. But they were much improved from August onward with a record of 31-25. Based on the strong finish and their core of young players, the Braves management may well think they at least have a chance to contend this year. Why else would they have signed Bartolo Colon and R.A. Dickey?
The Braves do have a 19 year old prospect in their system, third baseman Austin Riley, who might an attractive target for the Mets. He is still raw, but he has a strong arm and power at the plate. The Braves have a pretty good farm system, and Riley is rated as the #10 prospect in the Braves organization by SB Nation. Perhaps combination of Bruce and cash to cover part of his salary might be enough to pry Riley and maybe a lower-rated prospect from the Braves. This of course is a trade within the division but it still could make sense, for both teams.
I like it.
My fear is that Sandy badly miscalculated the market — full disclosure: I did too, though I don’t have access to his contacts, nor do I get paid millions a year to be the Mets GM — and now we are stuck with that lumbering lunkhead.
More than likely Bruce is ours to keep. If he was insurance against losing Ces, then someone somewhere thinks he has skills.
Its worth connecting Bruce to the prospects article and comment thread: Bruce’s time with the Mets is anomalous to his back of the baseball card. I think there is more than enough reason to suspect he will likely migrate back to his normal numbers as opposed to just sliding off a cliff. All this is to say, I dont think Bruce is the biggest issue for the 2017 Mets.
Who ever offers the Mets bullpen help is likely to land Bruce. As for the Braves, i am pretty sure they signed Colon and Dickey for them to teach the young players, to provide stability to the rotation and, to trade for prospects at the July trading deadline. They did not sign them because they feel they can compete this year.
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Good comment Neal, but I still think the Braves may think they can contend, if not for the division then for the wild card based on their strong finish in 2016. they not only signed Colon and and Dickey but also Sean Rodriguez, who is in his 30s and can play most any position, the king of all around utility player who could help a contender for the next couple of years
Bruce is payroll and a bench warmer and PT pinch hitter for 2017 if not dealt. Maybe they should trade him to the Braves for Bartolo Colon or least a dozen eggs and a gallon of milk.
The bullpen and fifth and sixth starters are a bigger issues with most of the staff who will be on innings limits.
Bigger issues, perhaps, but linked.
Every move and corresponding non-move connects.
On the topic of the Mets roster, I still feel it’s too soon to make any definitive statements. At this point, Sandy has not achieved his expressed goals. But there’s time and the market has been a complicating factor.
Not too worried about 5th and 6th starters.
Innings limits?
The Mets need to add to their roster another relief pitcher that is equal to or better than Blevins. The obvious solution is to trade Bruce for that reliever. The next option is to trade Bruce for anyone and use the salary difference for a free agent reliever. The third option is to increase their payroll and sign a free agent relief pitcher and deal with the Bruce situation later. The third choice assures that the Mets that they fill their need. I have no problem with Bruce batting cleanup and playing RF.
If Bruce does play RF and bat cleanup, what do you think the Mets should do with conforto?
I am a huge Michael Conforto fan and believe he will become a better than average player and possibly an all star in his career. Conforto did not come through as expected for the Mets in 2016 with a slash line of 220/310/414/725 . The reason that Bruce was traded for in August was to jump start the offense because Conforto failed. Bruce had a slash line in 2016 of 250/309/506/815 with 33 home runs and 99 RBI’s. Bruce has a career 248/318/467/785 Bruce is a professional and should get the first shot in RF. Conforto has 1.043 years of service time,is 24 YOA and is very controllable. He should go to AAA so that he can get consistent AB’s.
i happen to agree with you on Bruce. Bruce is a better option for us in Right field and our only legitimate #4 hitter.(If he hits for us). I also believe that anyone who bats in front of Cespedes will see so many good pitches to hit, that that person will have a great year at the plate.
I’m in with keeping Bruce too if it means we just don’t dump him for zilch. It’s just classic not trading a guy when his value is at a nadir point. We should just sign Blevins and Salas; they must be getting antsy.
According to Sandy, according to the budget as we understand it, keeping Bruce and signing Blevins and Salas are mutually exclusive.
It can’t all happen.
By keeping Bruce, you are making a choice that prevents other choices. Every stone tossed in the pond causes ripples.
Is there any indications that they have offered Blevins any kind of contract? He is a proven performer. Worse case scenario is we juggle Bruce in the OF until the trade deadline and then move some pieces as we have been known to do. We all like Conforto but would feel more confident in him had he not taking a step back. If the mets were very solid in most starting spots versus the number of question marks due to age and injuries it would be much easier to install Conforto in RF and let him fight through it. If our pitching stays healthy then all we need from our hitters is their average years except for TDA who must learn to throw out runners and stay focused at the plate when he isn’t.
1 year Bats are usually “pieces” for contending teams…and very often transacted at the trade deadline. Does a Contending team send you a Closer..or a Loogy…Generally, Not!!—contending teams need to retain those guys.
A Braves trade doesn’t seem to be a fit…specifically for the Braves! I believe they’ve made a good enough “show” for their fans—the lie that they can contend. They’ve plastered over some parts, and they are waiting for their young players.
It makes no sense!…so it’ll happen!!!!!
told today, hes now the starting RF for the 2017 NY Mets