Overall, Jay Bruce had a productive 2016 season. It though was a tale of two different seasons between his time on the Cincinnati Reds and his days with the New York Mets.
Sandy Alderson will have a decision to make with Bruce as the Mets hold a $13 million option on him if they would like to hold on to the slugging outfielder for another year.
Bruce’s numbers in 2016 provided you with a .250/.309/.506 batting line to go along with 33 homers and 99 RBI. Though, through his 50 games as a Met, he hit to a .219/.294/.391 batting line with eight homers and 19 RBI. To his credit though, he played quite well in the final games of the season to help push this team to the playoffs for a second consecutive year.
“To come over here in this atmosphere, I’m very fortunate,” Bruce said. “I had so much fun playing baseball down the stretch. We had an opportunity to go to the next round and we battled so hard to get here.” (NY Post)
Many looked at acquiring Bruce this past trading deadline as a cushion for a team who could lose their star player in Yoenis Cespedes this coming offseason. With or without Cespdes, the team also has a crowded outfield that includes Curtis Granderson, Michael Conforto, Brandon Nimmo and Juan Lagares.
You could argue that it has come to a point in which Conforto and Nimmo deserve a shot to show what they can do over a full season. There have been grumblings as well with Conforto, that he may see time at first base in 2017, giving the Mets more options.
Bruce though can be used in a few different ways, if picking up his option. The Mets can attempt to also give him some time at first base, especially if they choose to let Lucas Duda go. If Cespedes returns, they also have the option of trading Bruce after exercising his option.
Although his time with the Mets may not have been that great, he would still have value on the trade market. With a weak free agent class this upcoming offseason, there will be teams in need of a left-handed outfielder, who hits for power.
Bruce through all this struggles though was grateful for his opportunity to come onboard a team in a playoff race, and acknowledged that things did not go as planned for himself as far as production.
“My time here didn’t start like I wanted it to,” Bruce said. “You never know when you’re gonna go back to the playoffs. This was my fourth time and I don’t take it for granted.”
His final couple weeks of the season had shown that Bruce can play in New York. It may have taken some adjustments of getting used to all the changes in his life, but he can still be a force in any lineup. The Mets should and will exercise their $13 million option on Bruce.
What would you do with Bruce and his $13 million option?
