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Jay Bruce Traded to Cleveland

MFS62 Aug 10 2017 02:05 AM

For Ryder Ryan (not to be confused with Ryan Ryder), a minor league reliever. (What else?) As per Joel Sherman. https://www.baseball-reference.com/regi ... an--000ryd Guess this opens up a 25 man roster spot for Dom Smith. Later

Frayed Knot Aug 10 2017 02:21 AM Re: Jay Bruce Traded to Cleveland

Not much of a return if that is indeed the actual trade -- neither team has confirmed and the specifics of deals like this are often the last things to becomes accurate. The Indians drafted Ryan twice, in the 40th round out of a Charlotte, NC area HS in 2014 and then again in the 30th round out of UNC in 2016 So far has turned in a very undistinguished year and a half in Rookie and Low-A ball.

41Forever Aug 10 2017 02:24 AM Re: Jay Bruce Traded to Cleveland

Ryan, a 30th-round pick of the Indians in 2016, is 3-4 with a 4.79 ERA in 33 relief appearances with Class A Lake County this year. If this is the best we can get, then what is the point? Is the goal here to just dump some salary and open a roster spot?

seawolf17 Aug 10 2017 02:30 AM Re: Jay Bruce Traded to Cleveland

So glad we waited until waivers to trade him. Crikey.

Chad Ochoseis Aug 10 2017 02:43 AM Re: Jay Bruce Traded to Cleveland

The Indians have had some outfield injuries. Michael Brantley just went on the DL with an ankle sprain, which explains why the Indians needed Bruce. Why the Mets need Ryder Ryan is beyond me.

Fman99 Aug 10 2017 02:44 AM Re: Jay Bruce Traded to Cleveland

The only silver lining is that he didn't go to the MFYs. They were the other rumored team to be hot and heavy for JB. But still, yah, color me non impressed.

bmfc1 Aug 10 2017 02:52 AM Re: Jay Bruce Traded to Cleveland

The Wilpons save $4M in salary which might account for the low return. Clearly saving $ is more important than getting help for next year as only 2 of the 5 relievers that they've acquired are close to the majors. Perhaps they'll use the bounty they saved for Duda and Bruce and go for a FA but I doubt it.

Ceetar Aug 10 2017 02:54 AM Re: Jay Bruce Traded to Cleveland

bmfc1 wrote: The Wilpons save $4M in salary which might account for the low return. Clearly saving $ is more important than getting help for next year as only 2 of the 5 relievers that they've acquired are close to the majors. Perhaps they'll use the bounty they saved for Duda and Bruce and go for a FA but I doubt it. you know what accounts for the low return? That Bruce isn't very good and no one else has wanted him during all the other attempts to trade him.

bmfc1 Aug 10 2017 03:04 AM Re: Jay Bruce Traded to Cleveland

Perhaps you're right. That's what Sandy will tell us tomorrow ("the market was slow for power hitting outfielders and we acquired a live arm with a high strikeout rate"). Or perhaps the Indians were desperate for an OF given Brantley's injury, Bruce has 29 HRs so they wanted him, and Sandy said "give us any POS from your organization so long as we can save money". http://www.milb.com/player/index.jsp?pl ... g/2017/ALL

bmfc1 Aug 10 2017 03:07 AM Re: Jay Bruce Traded to Cleveland

Fman99 wrote: The only silver lining is that he didn't go to the MFYs. They were the other rumored team to be hot and heavy for JB. But still, yah, color me non impressed. [tweet]https://twitter.com/MarcCarig/status/895480888636690432[/tweet]

Edgy MD Aug 10 2017 03:13 AM Re: Jay Bruce Traded to Cleveland

41Forever wrote: Ryan, a 30th-round pick of the Indians in 2016, is 3-4 with a 4.79 ERA in 33 relief appearances with Class A Lake County this year. If this is the best we can get, then what is the point? Is the goal here to just dump some salary and open a roster spot? Well, those aren't altogether meaningless goals.

Ceetar Aug 10 2017 03:20 AM Re: Jay Bruce Traded to Cleveland

bmfc1 wrote: The only silver lining is that he didn't go to the MFYs. They were the other rumored team to be hot and heavy for JB. But still, yah, color me non impressed. [tweet]https://twitter.com/MarcCarig/status/895480888636690432[/tweet] So the Yankees would rather give up prospects than money, but the METS are cheap? This narrative has so many holes it makes swiss cheese feel ashamed.

Nymr83 Aug 10 2017 03:58 AM Re: Jay Bruce Traded to Cleveland

yeah, i dont buy that the Yankees valued cash over talent, they'd probably write Wilpon a cool $100 million check to trade Syndergaard for scrubs right now i the offer was available. this trade blows, I'd have rather kept him and made the qualifying offer in November, worst case you have him back for next year on a 1 year deal with no established 1B on the roster (a position he can fake) and who know if Granderson is back either.

Chad Ochoseis Aug 10 2017 04:06 AM Re: Jay Bruce Traded to Cleveland

Ceetar wrote: you know what accounts for the low return? That Bruce isn't very good and no one else has wanted him during all the other attempts to trade him. Ten days ago, there weren't any teams in a close race who had a LH hitting starting corner outfielder on the DL. Even if you buy into the proposition that Bruce isn't very good (I don't), he started looking a lot better once a need opened up. I'm not annoyed by missing out on the Yankee deal, because I don't know what "a portion of salary" and "better prospects" mean. But the Mets could have held out for more from a team that needed to make a deal. Or they could have walked away and QOed Bruce for 2018.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Aug 10 2017 06:00 AM Re: Jay Bruce Traded to Cleveland

Jay Bruce isn't great. But, at least this year, he isn't terrible (2.4 bWAR, 2.1 fWAR). Not only that, but the more you take a glove out of his hand, the better he gets. He's basically a 4-plus-WAR DH. He's an asset... all the more so if you eat some money before sending him away. Hell, maybe you'll get the exact two prospects you're seeking. Or, you could get a 30th-round single- A reliever without much of a minor-league track record. Either way.

Lefty Specialist Aug 10 2017 11:38 AM Re: Jay Bruce Traded to Cleveland

Bruce had a knack for hitting home runs when I wasn't watching. He hit 29 homers this year and I think I saw three of them. Weird. Seemed like a good guy and wish he'd been traded for more than a dozen Chief Wahoo jockstraps. But the writing was on the wall when Sandy couldn't move him last winter or before July 31st this year. Which also means, don't expect a lot for Walker, Granderson or Cabrera, if they can even move them at all.

metirish Aug 10 2017 12:48 PM Re: Jay Bruce Traded to Cleveland

#Metstwitter in full meltdown mode last night

Frayed Knot Aug 10 2017 01:03 PM Re: Jay Bruce Traded to Cleveland

metirish wrote: #Metstwitter in full meltdown mode last night Is it ever NOT in full meltdown mode?

Centerfield Aug 10 2017 01:06 PM Re: Jay Bruce Traded to Cleveland

Makes no sense. If this is the return you just hold him and offer the QO. You know the big winner here? Jay Bruce. Who is now unrestricted this offseason. I wonder what those Yankee prospects were. If they were better than what we got we should have taken that deal. Was Dilson not available?

MFS62 Aug 10 2017 01:15 PM Re: Jay Bruce Traded to Cleveland

Mets fans are asking what two wives and a lot of Russian hookers have said to Donald, "Is that all there is"? Later

Benjamin Grimm Aug 10 2017 01:33 PM Re: Jay Bruce Traded to Cleveland

I imagine that all three wives asked that. Although I'm not expecting it, I wouldn't be terribly surprised if Bruce returned to the Mets this offseason. The player they got back seems like little more than a warm body, but who knows, maybe the Mets see something in him. I would have rather they had kept Bruce. It might have been fun to see him try to get to 40 homers.

Frayed Knot Aug 10 2017 01:40 PM Re: Jay Bruce Traded to Cleveland

A bit more on Ryder Ryan. First of all, how often must peeps see this guy's name written out and mentally put the comma in there while assuming it's Ryan Ryder? In fact, I think we need to call him Ryan Comma Ryder ... 'Comma' for short Anyway, according to BA, he was actively scouted as a HS'er but teams backed off because it was assumed he was going to follow a scholarship offer to UNC, hence the 40th round Hail Mary choice by Cleveland. But his career at UNC turned out to be not much as "he made only one appearance in two seasons (failing to record an out) before leaving the team". Injuries? ... Discipline? BA offers no details here, but that kind of college record doesn't exactly boost the old draft stock. Whatever the reason, when he left UNC after two years (he was older than his class in HS and so was a draft-eligible sophomore) the Indians grabbed him again in 2016, in the 30th round this time. BA: "After making some delivery tweaks, Ryan is touching 97 mph and sitting 94-95 out of the bullpen. He shows an ability to elevate and jam hitters with his heater. His slider is less developed and his control, while improved, has further refinement to come." So this sounds like maybe he's got a bit more upside than the skeletal background suggests, even if it's still a long way and a lot of steps from being realized.

Ceetar Aug 10 2017 01:47 PM Re: Jay Bruce Traded to Cleveland

"his slider is less developed" and the Mets have a reputation for developing great sliders.

Centerfield Aug 10 2017 03:20 PM Re: Jay Bruce Traded to Cleveland

A bit more on Ryder Ryan. First of all, how often must peeps see this guy's name written out and mentally put the comma in there while assuming it's Ryan Ryder? In fact, I think we need to call him Ryan Comma Ryder ... 'Comma' for short Anyway, according to BA, he was actively scouted as a HS'er but teams backed off because it was assumed he was going to follow a scholarship offer to UNC, hence the 40th round Hail Mary choice by Cleveland. But his career at UNC turned out to be not much as "he made only one appearance in two seasons (failing to record an out) before leaving the team". Injuries? ... Discipline? BA offers no details here, but that kind of college record doesn't exactly boost the old draft stock. Whatever the reason, when he left UNC after two years (he was older than his class in HS and so was a draft-eligible sophomore) the Indians grabbed him again in 2016, in the 30th round this time. BA: "After making some delivery tweaks, Ryan is touching 97 mph and sitting 94-95 out of the bullpen. He shows an ability to elevate and jam hitters with his heater. His slider is less developed and his control, while improved, has further refinement to come." So this sounds like maybe he's got a bit more upside than the skeletal background suggests, even if it's still a long way and a lot of steps from being realized. [channeling ceetar]meh[/channeling ceetar]

Centerfield Aug 10 2017 03:22 PM Re: Jay Bruce Traded to Cleveland

A bit more on Ryder Ryan. First of all, how often must peeps see this guy's name written out and mentally put the comma in there while assuming it's Ryan Ryder? In fact, I think we need to call him Ryan Comma Ryder ... 'Comma' for short Anyway, according to BA, he was actively scouted as a HS'er but teams backed off because it was assumed he was going to follow a scholarship offer to UNC, hence the 40th round Hail Mary choice by Cleveland. But his career at UNC turned out to be not much as "he made only one appearance in two seasons (failing to record an out) before leaving the team". Injuries? ... Discipline? BA offers no details here, but that kind of college record doesn't exactly boost the old draft stock. Whatever the reason, when he left UNC after two years (he was older than his class in HS and so was a draft-eligible sophomore) the Indians grabbed him again in 2016, in the 30th round this time. BA: "After making some delivery tweaks, Ryan is touching 97 mph and sitting 94-95 out of the bullpen. He shows an ability to elevate and jam hitters with his heater. His slider is less developed and his control, while improved, has further refinement to come." This description kinda reminds me of Akeel Morris, that single A guy that got lit up in Miami, then got traded to the Braves for Kelly Johnson II. So this sounds like maybe he's got a bit more upside than the skeletal background suggests, even if it's still a long way and a lot of steps from being realized.

Chad Ochoseis Aug 10 2017 04:49 PM Re: Jay Bruce Traded to Cleveland

Bruce's first stop as an Indian? Playing against Lucas Duda in Tampa Bay.

Chad Ochoseis Aug 10 2017 05:03 PM Re: Jay Bruce Traded to Cleveland

An Indians fan friend pointed out to me that Progressive Field has the third smallest left field area in the majors, which will be great for Bruce. In my vague memory, at least, his only real OF problem was a lack of range. His arm is above average, and he doesn't make mental mistakes.

RealityChuck Aug 10 2017 05:47 PM Re: Jay Bruce Traded to Cleveland

More on Ryder Ryan: What is interesting about Ryan is he pitched only one game in college because he focused on being a third baseman. To that end, he should remind you a bit of Max Kuhns. Essentially, these are arms with not a lot of mileage, a lot of potential, but the both lack polish. As a result, mechanics and location become the biggest issues. As of the moment, Ryan has a high 3.7 BB/9, but it is a step in the right direction after he posted a 4.3 BB/9 last year. He has struggled in the second half with a 10.67 ERA after posting a 1.67 ERA in the first half that earned him a spot in the Mid-season All-Star spot. Ultimately, Ryan has strikeout ability, and when batters make contact, it is in the ground. So the low draft was because they thought he wouldn't sign, and the current low regard is because he has very little pitching experience. He seems to be better than the basic information implies. He has decent potential. OTOH, the Mets were stupid not to take on some of Bruce's salary and get someone with even more.

smg58 Aug 10 2017 05:56 PM Re: Jay Bruce Traded to Cleveland

Both Fangraphs and the Fielding Bible put Bruce's glove on the good side of average this year. Not knowing what the Yankees offered, I can't really comment on the difference. I'd take $5M before I took two underwhelming prospects instead of one, for example. If they got zero takers in July, there was zero reason to expect much now. If Brantley got hurt, nobody would have offered the Mets anything for Bruce. I just don't get it, but nobody wants to give up any value for a rental. Somebody will miss the playoffs because of their stubbornness and the market will eventually re-correct itself, but that will do jack shit for the Mets. The only thing that Alderson could have done was anticipate how the market and the Mets' season would go well in advance of the deadline and act proactively, but hindsight is bionic and the complaints would have been even louder. Personally I'd have offered Bruce the QO, but I see the logic in going this route.

Frayed Knot Aug 10 2017 06:01 PM Re: Jay Bruce Traded to Cleveland

RealityChuck wrote: What is interesting about Ryan is he pitched only one game in college because he focused on being a third baseman. Ahh, that clears up a few things. The BA piece I read talked about how he was a two-way player in HS but then never mentioned that was the reason why he had only one college pitching appearance and I took their silence on the matter as an implication that maybe there was something more. And, yeah, the lower mileage on the arm has both its plusses and minuses. OTOH, the Mets were stupid not to take on some of Bruce's salary and get someone with even more. That's assuming one was offered. The only story we have so far is vague reports about how the Yanx were in on talks and offered two minor leaguers but no hint as to who or how good they might be. Some of the press has a habit of assuming MFY prospects are better based solely on what the MFYs tell them, but they could also both be shit in which case two times shit is merely twice as much shit.

Ceetar Aug 10 2017 06:12 PM Re: Jay Bruce Traded to Cleveland

I read somewhere that they were two prospects that the Mets talked to the Yankees about in July but couldn't find anything about whether it was Yankee offered, or Mets requested. And either way, that deal clearly wasn't good enough on it's own. imo the mistake Alderson made with Bruce was trading FOR him, and then picking up the option expecting people to want him if/when Conforto proved he would play every day.

Edgy MD Aug 10 2017 06:16 PM Re: Jay Bruce Traded to Cleveland

RealityChuck wrote: OTOH, the Mets were stupid not to take on some of Bruce's salary and get someone with even more. It depends. Money has a value in terms of competitiveness too, if and when it's re-invested. They ate a big chunk of salary when they traded Beltran for Wheeler, for instance, and that's back when the team was operating in something like receivership, so it's not as if they won't or can't do that if the right deal (or what they see as the right deal) is available.

Frayed Knot Aug 11 2017 02:07 AM Re: Jay Bruce Traded to Cleveland

Bruce PH'd in the 7th and popped out in Cleveland's 4-1 loss to TBR

Chad Ochoseis Aug 11 2017 02:32 AM Re: Jay Bruce Traded to Cleveland

And Duda specializes in two of the three true outcomes, walking twice and striking out three times. The Rays bat him 2nd. Who would've thunk?

Edgy MD Aug 11 2017 02:33 AM Re: Jay Bruce Traded to Cleveland

Manuel batted him second when he first came up. It's the craziest.

seawolf17 Aug 11 2017 02:25 PM Re: Jay Bruce Traded to Cleveland

Edgy MD wrote: Manuel batted him second when he first came up. It's the craziest. In Jerry's defense, Lucas WAS a small, banjo-hitting shortstop-type when he first came up.

Edgy MD Aug 11 2017 05:56 PM Re: Jay Bruce Traded to Cleveland

Nobody's reporting that this is what scuttled any prospective deal, but Bruce did have the Yankees on his no-trade list.

Chad Ochoseis Aug 11 2017 06:10 PM Re: Jay Bruce Traded to Cleveland

The Indians too, I think.

Ceetar Aug 11 2017 06:26 PM Re: Jay Bruce Traded to Cleveland

yes the Yankees, not the Indians, but supposedly he said (5 days before the trade) that he'd likely accept a trade to a contender on the list.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Aug 12 2017 03:50 AM Re: Jay Bruce Traded to Cleveland

Well, fair enough, Sandy. "My responsibility is to get the best deal possible,” Alderson said. “It’s not just a function of two [players] versus one, there are other considerations, including cost. Taking all of that into account, that is the direction we decided to go.”

Frayed Knot Aug 12 2017 01:05 PM Re: Jay Bruce Traded to Cleveland

Ryan Comma Ryder in his 1st NYM system appearance: 3 runs on 4 hits and a walk in 2 innings as part of a 15-2 Columbia loss. Oh well.

seawolf17 Aug 12 2017 02:58 PM Re: Jay Bruce Traded to Cleveland

Frayed Knot wrote: Ryan Comma Ryder in his 1st NYM system appearance: 3 runs on 4 hits and a walk in 2 innings as part of a 15-2 Columbia loss. Oh well. "Major-league-ready."

Chad Ochoseis Aug 12 2017 03:59 PM Re: Jay Bruce Traded to Cleveland

Ceetar wrote: yes the Yankees, not the Indians, but supposedly he said (5 days before the trade) that he'd likely accept a trade to a contender on the list. I got my info from Cot's, as of 12/15/16. Maybe he had changed the list since then. From the article LWFS linked to - Sandy wrote: Certainly dealing with the Yankees would be a factor, just as dealing with the Washington Nationals would be a factor,” Alderson said. “I think it would be foolish for us to say it doesn’t matter, but at the same time is it prohibitive? No. He also said something similar in the SNY interview a couple of days ago. This may be the stuff of a breakout thread, but this is silly. As much fun as it is to hate the Yanquis, their effect on the Mets' playoff chances is about a micron greater than zero. There are four other teams competing for the NL East and ten others on top of that competing for the NL wild card. Why add more obstacles by worrying about an AL team? You can make the argument that the Mets and Yankees compete for revenue, but I'd like to see actual numbers on the degree to which Yankee financial success hurts Met financial success before I buy into that. My guess without seeing the numbers is that when the Mets and Yankees are both winning, it's good for NYC area baseball in general and the pie gets much larger. There was talk - don't remember where - that the Yankee offer wasn't as good as was hinted at by Mark Carig's tweet, which is one thing. But not wanting to deal with the Yankees just because they're the Yankees is a different story.

d'Kong76 Aug 12 2017 04:27 PM Re: Jay Bruce Traded to Cleveland

seawolf17 wrote: "Major-league-ready." Who needs Montero, Comma!

Frayed Knot Aug 12 2017 05:55 PM Re: Jay Bruce Traded to Cleveland

The only thing we 'know' about the Yanx offer for Bruce is that there were two bodies instead of just the one we got from Cleveland. Whether that makes it a better offer or not would be difficult to gauge even if we knew the names which of course we don't, but it's certainly not better simply based on the Yanx saying so.

Benjamin Grimm Sep 14 2017 04:55 PM Re: Jay Bruce Traded to Cleveland

Jay has hit five homers since he's been with Cleveland, giving him a current season total of 34, which matches his career high set in 2012 with the Reds. For a while it looked like he might make a run at 40 home runs, but with 16 games remaining he'll have to pick up the pace by quite a bit in order to get there.

Centerfield Sep 15 2017 01:10 PM Re: Jay Bruce Traded to Cleveland

Jay with the GW double last night. Maybe the rumors that he can't handle playing in Cleveland were overblown.