Jay Bruce’s name apparently has been coming up in trade talks and the Blue Jays reportedly want him.
Toronto was talking with the Oakland A’s and Cincinnati Reds about a three-team trade to acquire Bruce. That deal fell apart, but now the Jays reportedly are getting the Angels involved as a third team.
deal on table has bruce to #jays, michael saunders to #angels, prospects to #reds
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) February 23, 2016
Ken Rosenthal adds that new Angels GM Billy Eppler has had his eye on Saunders for a while.
Also: #Yankees, with Eppler as assistant GM, wanted Saunders from #BlueJays after TOR acquired him from #Mariners. Eppler now #Angels GM.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) February 23, 2016
Bruce is owed $12.5 million this season, which is why the Reds would like to get rid of him. He batted just .226/.294/.434 last season, though he did club 26 home runs. He averaged 32 home runs a season from 2011-2013. Eppler’s interest in Saunders doesn’t make a ton of sense. He only played nine games due to injury last season and is due $2.9 million this year. A former Mariners outfielder, Saunders is a career .230 hitter.
