Former New York Mets outfielder Jay Bruce currently has two multi-year deals on the table and is expected to receive another one in the coming days according to Jon Morosi of MLB.com.
Bruce started the offseason by reportedly asking for a five-year deal. That target has now been lowered to a four-year deal but the New York Mets only feel comfortable giving him three.
Bruce, 30, hit .254/.324/.508 with a career-high 36 home runs, 101 RBI and 115 OPS+ in 147 games between the Mets and the Cleveland Indians in 2017. He played 12 games at first base in the majors during the 2017 and looked passable there with 0 DRS in 91 innings. He had 6 DRS in right field combined for the season.
The Mets are interested in bringing Bruce back as insurance to the recovery time of Michael Conforto coming off surgery and to the young Dominic Smith at first base after his big league debut struggles.
The San Francisco Giants, Colorado Rockies and the Seattle Mariners (before Dee Gordon trade) have showed interest in Bruce this offseason. Bruce’s agent has expressed that Jay would prefer to play for the Giants.
