The front office would like to add a left-handed hitting outfielder to the Cubs roster before the deadline. The Cubs have been connected to Josh Reddick since April and those rumors have increased in the last 24 hours. According to Jon Paul Morosi, the Cubs are a potential suitor for Reds’ outfielder Jay Bruce.
The Reds have been looking to trade Jay Bruce since last summer. Reports have suggested the Reds have been close to moving Bruce on several occasions but have not been able to work out a deal for the veteran outfielder.
Jon Paul Morosi reported Friday that the Cubs, Dodgers and Indians are interested in Josh Reddick and Jay Bruce.
Jay Bruce is having a good season for the Reds. Bruce expects to be traded before the deadline and would like to play for a contender. Bruce is hitting .263/.314/.530 in 89 games with 21 doubles, six triples and 19 home runs for a .844 OPS. Bruce has not put up numbers this good since the 2013 season.
Bruce has a .881 OPS against right-handed pitching and has actually hit better on the road this season (.288/.335/.558/.894, 15 doubles, four triples and seven home runs) than at Great American Ball Park (.240/.295/.503/.798, six doubles, two triples, 12 home runs).
Jay Bruce is owed the remainder of his $12.5 million salary for this season and the six-year, $51 million contract extension he signed in December 2010 includes a $13 million club option for the 2017 season. Bruce’s option has a $1 million buyout and he cannot block a trade to the Cubs.
Bruce has a limited no-trade and can block deals to the Diamondbacks, Red Sox, Indians, Marlins, Twins, Yankees, A’s and Rays.
The front office is not just looking at relief help and starting pitching. The Cubs would like to add a lefty to the outfield that can also play defense.