With the non-waiver deadline less than 72 hours away, Cincinnati Reds outfielder Jay Bruce is among the names most often mentioned in trade rumors. Cincinnati agreed to part with their right fielder over the offseason in a three-team trade, only for the deal to come undone due to medical issues.
In recent weeks the Los Angeles Dodgers have been one of multiple teams to reportedly contact the Reds over Bruce. The Dodgers are believed to be in search of a power left-handed bat that’s largely been absent from their lineup this season.
Along with being tied to Bruce, the Dodgers were expected to contact the Colorado Rockies for Carlos Gonzalez, and reportedly discussed a package and separate trades with the Oakland Athletics for Rich Hill and Josh Reddick.
As for the Dodgers’ reported interest in Bruce, they’re said to be working on a three-team trade to acquire the 29-year-old, according to ESPN’s Jayson Stark:
Rumblings of a big 3-team extravaganza brewing with the Dodgers, Reds & a mystery team. Jay Bruce would land in LA when the dust settles
— Jayson Stark (@jaysonst) July 29, 2016
According to Jon Morosi of FOX Sports, the Tampa Bay Rays were at one point named as the potential third team involved:
#Rays and #Dodgers have had recent trade talks that could link up with #Reds, sources say. @jaysonst first reported 3-team scenario. @MLB
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) July 30, 2016
However, Stark later dispelled that idea:
Sources say the Rays are not the third team in this Dodgers-Reds deal. So the coast-to-coast team hunt goes on!
— Jayson Stark (@jaysonst) July 30, 2016
This would mark the second three-team trade the Dodgers and Reds were involved in. Los Angeles sent Jose Peraza and Scott Schebler last December in a deal that netted Micah Johnson, Frankie Montas and Trayce Thompson.
The Dodgers also completed a complex three-team, 13-player trade with the Atlanta Braves and Miami Marlins last August. With a potential trade for Bruce expanding to include a third team, it’s plausible Yasiel Puig’s time with the Dodgers may be coming to an end.
Early this month it was reported the club was open to trading the enigmatic outfielder. Puig is out of the lineup on Friday a sixth consecutive game as he battles right hamstring tightness.
