Mets trade rumors: Mets “on the verge” of trading for Reds’ Jay Bruce

According to ESPN’s Buster Olney, the Mets are “on the verge” of trading for Reds outfielder Jay Bruce. Yahoo’s Tim Brown says that Brandon Nimmo would be part of any completed deal. Jon Heyman says that shortstop prospect Amed Rosario and outfielder Michael Conforto are not in the deal being discussed. Joel Sherman adds that it’ll be two “lower-level” prospects in addition to Nimmo.

The Mets have been linked to the Reds for much of the past week, and have also shown interest in Brewers catcher Jonathan Lucroy, who was provisionally traded to the Indians before the deal was nixed upon Lucroy’s invocation of his no-trade clause.

Bruce, an All-Star this year with Cincinnati, is having one of his best years at the plate, batting .265/.316/.559 with 25 home runs and 80 RBIs. He’s a career .249/.319/.470 hitter, and his power output this year is well above what he’s been accustomed to.

Defensively, to say Bruce isn’t great is putting it mildly. He plays right field primarily and could play there for the Mets with Curtis Granderson presumably sliding over to play a not-so-great center field. Bruce has played a few career games at first base so it’s conceivable he could get a rep or two there as a right-handed option.