Jay Bruce Rumors

Jocketty Names Five Untouchable Reds

Bob Hunter of the Columbus Dispatch relays a Walt Jocketty radio show appearance. Jocketty reportedly named five untouchable Reds players: Jay Bruce, Joey Votto, Edinson Volquez, Johnny Cueto, and Edwin Encarnacion. Hunter is surprised to see Encarnacion labeled off-limits. The 25 year-old third baseman has a career line of .268/.344/.450 in 396 games. With several .900+ OPS months on his resume, EE has shown flashes of star potential offensively. Veterans Francisco Cordero, Aaron Harang, Bronson Arroyo, and Brandon Phillips apparently did not make the list. Only Arroyo has been mentioned in trade rumors this year; the rest seem unlikely to...   Continue Reading

---

Olney's Latest: Bruce, Draft Strategies, Young

Here's Buster Olney's latest blog entry. Olney takes a look back at last winter's rumored Erik Bedard for Jay Bruce trade. Bruce has been living up to his untouchable tag. The Reds have to be happy with the way their young players are developing, but a rotation of Bedard, Aaron Harang, Edinson Volquez, Johnny Cueto and Homer Bailey could rival the Braves of the early 90's. That said, Bruce won't be traded anytime soon. Numerous reports are coming out regarding draft strategies. Here are a few links - Astros, Athletics, Brewers, Pirates, Rangers, Rays and Yankees. Olney also touches base...   Continue Reading

---

Odds and Ends: Bruce, Ensberg, Boone, Weaver

Plenty of links for today. Indians top prospect Adam Miller is pretty much done for the season. '09 free agent shortstop Orlando Cabrera and manager Ozzie Guillen are not getting along. Peter Bendix explains the savings the Reds get by waiting to promote Jay Bruce. Morgan Ensberg is a DFA candidate, while LaTroy Hawkins may be getting there. Bret Boone's comeback attempt has ended. Jeff Weaver (6.69 ERA in Triple A) can ask for his release if not called up by June 15th. Hank Blalock may not be in the Rangers' long-term plans. The Indians designated Jorge Julio for assignment.   Continue Reading

---

Reds Designate Hatteberg

1:42pm: It's done - the Reds have designated Hatteberg for assignment to make room for Bruce. 9:30am: The Reds haven't announced the corresponding move to Jay Bruce's callup yet. John Fay wonders whether they'll opt to designate Scott Hatteberg for assignment, noting his well-diminished role on the team. I speculated back in April that Hatteberg might be a good replacement for Carlos Delgado or complement to Richie Sexson. Corey Patterson has to be worried as well, since Bruce is expected to take over as the regular center fielder. Patterson is hitting just .201/.242/.354 in 155 plate appearances.   Continue Reading

---

Jay Bruce To Debut Tomorrow

According to Baseball Digest Daily, the Reds will promote top prospect Jay Bruce tomorrow. The 21 year-old is mashing to the tune of .364/.393/.630 in Triple A. Said Rob Neyer today: "Has there ever been a more obvious call-up in the history of the sport?" Bruce's promotion may signal the end of Corey Patterson in Cincinnati.   Continue Reading

---

Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Bruce, Longoria

Yesterday Rob Neyer of ESPN.com wrote about the fates of Baseball America's top two prospects, Jay Bruce and Evan Longoria. While Bruce start the season in the minors, Neyer notes that the Reds could be a playoff contender if Bruce and Joey Votto receive 1,000 plate appearances. On the other hand, a decision has yet be made on where Longoria will start the season. Neyer feels that the Rays may wish that Longoria was not playing so well in Spring Training. He thinks the Rays should forgo the potential savings of keeping him in the minors and buy some goodwill...   Continue Reading

---

Jonathan Mayo Discusses Bruce For Bedard

You've probably heard of Jonathan Mayo. He's a prominent writer on MLB.com, focusing on the minor leagues more recently. Mayo recently wrote a book called Facing Clemens , which "puts you right in the batter's box against the Rocket Man." Mayo finished the book before the steroid allegations surfaced, but it sounds like an interesting read regardless. In the interest of full disclosure, I should mention that if you click the above Amazon link and buy the book, I'll get 46 cents. Hopefully Mayo gets a better cut than that from his publisher! Anyway, I asked Mayo a handful of..   Continue Reading

---

Erik Bedard Rumors

Jason Churchill of Prospect Insider dug up "a few fresh nuggets" regarding the Erik Bedard trade discussions. The Mariners reportedly offered Adam Jones, Jeff Clement, and George Sherrill for Bedard. Seems the Orioles want Brandon Morrow or Carlos Triunfel instead of Clement. One source of Churchill's believes the Mariners would be more inclined to buckle and surrender Morrow than Triunfel. It's even possible that the Orioles gave the Mariners a "final counteroffer" including one of the two and will move on if it's rejected. Many Mariners fans believe Bedard is not even worth Jones straight up, so imagine how they'll..   Continue Reading

---

Erik Bedard Rumors: Mariners, Reds, Indians

Erik Bedard staying put in Baltimore this winter? Maybe not. Ken Rosenthal and Jason Churchill both busted out brand new material this evening with the latest Bedard chatter. The upshot is that the Mariners seem to have a decent shot at him. Rosenthal says the Mariners will put Adam Jones, Jeff Clement, and Matt Tuiasosopo in the deal. He indicates that the Orioles could push to substitute and get one of Tony Butler, Chris Tillman, and Carlos Triunfel. Looks like Bill Bavasi is sticking to the idea of keeping Brandon Morrow. Rosenthal hedges his bets, but admits to "growing indications..   Continue Reading

---

Orioles To Hold On To Bedard?

UPDATE, 12-22-07 at 4:52pm: John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer says the Orioles have backed off on their demand for Jay Bruce from the Reds in a Bedard deal. He says they still require three top prospects, who would probably be Homer Bailey, Johnny Cueto, and Joey Votto. That would wipe out the farm system, as that trio ranks #2-4 in the organization according to Baseball America. Would it be better to substitute Edwin Encarnacion for Cueto? FROM 12-22-07 at 12:35pm: Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun recently snagged some quotes from Andy MacPhail, the Orioles' president of baseball operations...   Continue Reading

---

Reds Still Searching For A Starter

John Fay writes of the Reds' continued search for a starting pitcher. That's Wayne Krivsky's focus; his main limitation is that Jay Bruce is untouchable. The Reds couldn't get Dan Haren because they wouldn't give up young starter Johnny Cueto. The focus remains on Erik Bedard; the Reds seem willing to offer Homer Bailey as a starting point. Fay indicates that the Dodgers lead for Bedard, which is odd given their current six-deep rotation. I have a feeling the hot stove is going to turn to Joe Blanton now. The Reds may be in the thick of it, especially if..   Continue Reading

---

The Giants and Hideki Matsui

As we learned earlier this week, the Giants and Yankees have talked about a Hideki Matsui trade. Let's discuss. According to Andrew Baggarly, talks are still in the early stages but the teams will meet again soon on the topic. A source close to Matsui indicated that he'd waive his no-trade for San Fran. However, the Giants are said to prefer adding a right-handed slugger. Baggarly thinks the Giants would readily part with Jonathan Sanchez and Brad Hennessey, with Noah Lowry a possibility. The Giants won't part with Brian Wilson, their closer of the future. Other notes from Baggarly -..   Continue Reading

---

Latest Erik Bedard Rumors: Tuesday

UPDATE, 12-4-07 at 11:36pm: Geoff Baker says that a Bedard trade with the Mariners would likely involve Wladimir Balentien, Adam Jones, and Brandon Morrow. UPDATE, 12-4-07 at 11:06pm: The Dodgers met with the Orioles to talk Bedard today. Ned Colletti has pretty much deemed Broxton untouchable, and no deal is close. UPDATE, 12-4-07 at 10:19pm: John Fay says the Reds are seriously pursuing Bedard. Wayne Krivsky won't reveal much, but Fay thinks Bailey, Votto, and another prospect might interest the Orioles. UPDATE, 12-4-07 at 10:16pm: The Mets again offered Heilman, Gomez, and Humber for Bedard, perhaps thinking that offering it..   Continue Reading

---

Odds and Ends: Cliff Lee, Edwin Jackson

You know the drill... Nick Piecoro checks in on his blog. Apparently the D'Backs discussed swapping Carlos Quentin for Cliff Lee before sending him to Chicago. As much as he might've liked to it seems like Josh Byrnes couldn't get a starter for Quentin. Geoff Baker links the Mariners to Lee, Ben Sheets, Mark Prior, and Edwin Jackson based on yesterday's buzz. The Sheets one has since been questioned, since the Dodgers were identified as the West Coast team that inquired. Prior could be part of a Raul Ibanez trade, but the Cubs are first focusing on Fukudome. As for..   Continue Reading

---

Chronicle Rumors: Haren, Blanton, Lincecum

Susan Slusser and John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle have an extensive collection of A's and Giants rumors from Monday's Winter Meetings mayhem. The asking price for Dan Haren is said to be massive, is in 3-4 blue chippers. The Tigers might even be willing to part with both Andrew Miller and Cameron Maybin for him - wow. The D'Backs are a bit more gunshy about their top prospects, though most believe Carlos Gonzalez to be available. I imagine Justin Upton is off limits. The Dodgers are going the hardest after Joe Blanton, with the Mets trailing. Huston Street..   Continue Reading

---

Reds Interested In Tim Lincecum

UPDATE, 12-3-07 at 9:10pm: MLB.com's Mark Sheldon debunks this rumor, even though three different industry guys were pimping it. The MLB.com team is doing a lot of debunking this evening. Hmm, that sounded dirty for some reason. FROM 12-3-07 at 3:51pm: According to MLB.com's Jim Molony, the Reds are interested in the Giants' Tim Lincecum (who isn't). Molony says the Reds won't include Jay Bruce in any deal, however. Why inquire then? Why would the Giants give up their best player for anything less than the Reds' top prospect? I guess it didn't hurt to ask. At any rate, it's..   Continue Reading

---

Crasnick's Latest: Encarnacion, Hamilton, Jenkins

ESPN's Jerry Crasnick has been working hard all day to get us some good rumors. Here's the latest. The Reds want to acquire a starter, but they spent all their money on Francisco Cordero. The plan is to trade a young player for a cheap starter. Joey Votto and especially Jay Bruce would be near impossible to acquire. However the Reds will listen on Josh Hamilton and Edwin Encarnacion. They never seemed to like Encarnacion. Crasnick thinks the Cubs could work for Hamilton but they'd need to pony up more than Sean Marshall. Would Rich Hill be too much? It's..   Continue Reading

---

Search MLBTR

MLBTR Mailing List

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

MLBTR Features

Recent Posts

Rumors By Team

Monthly Archives

Live Chats

Tuesdays at 2 p.m. CST