Cincinnati Reds Rumors: Blue Jays reportedly in talks to acquire Jay Bruce

Aug 10, 2015; San Diego, CA, USA; Cincinnati Reds right fielder Jay Bruce (32) makes a sliding catch on a ball hit by San Diego Padres shortstop Clint Barmes (not pictured) during the seventh inning at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 10, 2015; San Diego, CA, USA; Cincinnati Reds right fielder Jay Bruce (32) makes a sliding catch on a ball hit by San Diego Padres shortstop Clint Barmes (not pictured) during the seventh inning at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

Since the conclusion of the 2015 season, trade rumors have been swirling around Cincinnati Reds right fielder Jay Bruce with no deal coming close to being made.

According to MLB Network’s Jon Heyman, that may be about to change.

Although the Blue Jays were at one point on Bruce’s eight-team no-trade list, he removed them from that list during the offseason, the Enquirer’s C. Trent Rosecrans tweeted. Here is his updated list:

Per Yahoo Sports’ Jeff Passan, the Reds, Blue Jays and Oakland Athletics were at one point discussing a three-team deal involving Bruce that fell apart.

However, a different third team, the Los Angeles Angeles, is now included in the talks, says Heyman.

Based on this information, it seems the Reds would be getting players (presumably prospects) from the Angels. But as Steve Mancuso of Redleg Nation points out, the Halos don’t exactly have the most inspiring farm system:

Not only do the Angels not have any top-100 prospects, but Baseball America ranks their farm system in 30th — dead last — among all teams.

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Bruce’s trade value isn’t exactly clear. He’s only 28, but is coming off of the two worst seasons of his career and the Reds likely would not get the same return for him now that they would’ve before last year’s trade deadline. One thing working in the Reds’ favor is Bruce’s contract (owed $12.5 million in 2016 with a $13 million option for 2017), which compared to other outfielders with similar production, is a fairly team friendly deal.

An alternative to trading him now would be to wait until closer to the July trade deadline and let him potentially rebuild his value with a bounce-back season, but it appears the Reds may not want to wait for that.

Update: It seems the discussions have hit a snag, as ESPN’s Buster Olney is reporting that the deal is unlikely to get done.

Per Passan, the hold-up is over the medical status of one of the players involved.

For those of you keeping score at home:

Reds’ trades to fall apart this offseason: 3

Reds’ completed trades this offseason: 2

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