Mets trade rumors: Mets interested in Orioles reliever Brad Brach

The winter meetings are in full swing in Maryland today, and rumors are flying around quite liberally. One of the juiciest so far is that the Orioles are talking to the Mets about Curtis Granderson or Jay Bruce, and the Mets are interested in Baltimore reliever Brad Brach.

We know that the Mets want to trade one of their left-handed hitting outfielders, but they prefer to deal Jay Bruce instead of Granderson, who has been an integral part of the team’s offense and clubhouse leadership since he was signed three years ago. Of course, that means that other teams like Baltimore are going to prefer Granderson.

If the Orioles and Mets do comes to terms, Brach is a Freehold, New Jersey native who is coming off of a career year in 2016. The 30-year-old relief pitcher struck out 92 batters and walked 25 in 79 innings for a 2.05 ERA and 1.04 WHIP. Those are closer-type numbers for a guy who still has two years of arbitration left.

Meanwhile, Baltimore can use an affordable power-hitting outfielder, especially if they’re are unable to re-sign Mark Trumbo and his 47 home runs from 2016. Last year, Granderson hit .237/.335/.464 with 30 home runs while batting mostly out of the leadoff spot for the Mets, and Bruce hit .250/.309/.506 with 33 home runs between his time with the Reds and Mets.