Redsfan1507
It is what it is
Why not ? They needed a power hitter, and THE Mets prospect that was supposed to be the principal in the deal was injured and couldn't be traded....so the Reds just said, "who cares, leave him out of the trade". It was a deal the Mets couldn't refuse. Bruce cost the Mets about 1/4th of $14M this year, and whatever his buyout is for next year, assuming they can't trade him for at least the "value" they gave up, which is akin to a AA batboy and the tall kid with the 4th best fastball at the Little League World Series. I guarantee you Bruce will be in a MLB starting lineup next year, probably hitting near the Mendoza line, albeit with power. Who knows, he may be the next Paul O'Neill for someone.
What the Reds really traded Bruce for wasn't players, it was a breath of financial fresh air... the difference in his salary, and a MLB minimum replacement salary. About $3M this year, and $13.5 M next year. They traded him so they can give a couple of Schebler's a 2 year Jonny Gomes contract, and sign a couple of early ametuer draft picks and a steroidal 15 year old teenager or two in the DR. They traded him so they won't have to take out a loan to pay Brandon Phillips out next September, or KGJ for his last 3 years of his "hometown discount". Jay Bruce isn't an All-Star, but he's worth what he made in today's MLB economy...he got traded because Joey Votto gets paid market value as an elite player, Homer Bailey as a potential $120M loss, and Phillips and his salary (identical to Jay Bruce's) can't be traded without paying him to play for free to the receiving team.
What the Reds really traded Bruce for wasn't players, it was a breath of financial fresh air... the difference in his salary, and a MLB minimum replacement salary. About $3M this year, and $13.5 M next year. They traded him so they can give a couple of Schebler's a 2 year Jonny Gomes contract, and sign a couple of early ametuer draft picks and a steroidal 15 year old teenager or two in the DR. They traded him so they won't have to take out a loan to pay Brandon Phillips out next September, or KGJ for his last 3 years of his "hometown discount". Jay Bruce isn't an All-Star, but he's worth what he made in today's MLB economy...he got traded because Joey Votto gets paid market value as an elite player, Homer Bailey as a potential $120M loss, and Phillips and his salary (identical to Jay Bruce's) can't be traded without paying him to play for free to the receiving team.