Phillies acquire Jay Bruce from Mariners (for Jake Scheiner)

[el-pietro]

What would signing Bruce due to the lux cap space? There surely wouldn't be much room left? If they are going to go over would it be worth it to go all in? Bring in a starter or two, and some relief arms?

[David_Criss]

Royals Reportedly Ready To Trade "Nearly Anybody"

Billy Hamilton is a super speedy, good glove CF and ok glove at SS no hit guy
Merifield - wasn't he someone the Phillies were looking at last year?

[andyb]

Bruce didn't have a hot streak early in the year though; his OPS in May is higher than it was in March/April (when he also hit .187). Fewer HRs in May - otherwise he'd be leading the AL - but more SLG overall

That is not really true. The monrhly OPS data hides it. Starting March 30th he hit 7 home runs in 8 games. The day after that streak he had an OPS of 972. Batting average as only .204 but the home runs came in a big streak.

Since then he recovered to have a decent May, but take away that streak and his OPS is probably in the low 700s.

[andyb]

What would signing Bruce due to the lux cap space? There surely wouldn't be much room left? If they are going to go over would it be worth it to go all in? Bring in a starter or two, and some relief arms?

It will take some of it. $18 million now. Whatever salary we take will be pro-rated of course, so this won't put us over. This plus Kimbrel might of course.

[Squire]

Message Board Rumor from Jay Floyd that it might be EDLS in the Jay Bruce trade

[saycheese]

That is way too much. I would firmly be in the this is a bad deal if its EDLS. Unless other parts are in this deal

[gmwannabe]

i'll put my last night's report on the R phils in the minor's thread, but had to mention this. there were 2 ushers, who have been there for years, talking about this last night and they were bantering Mickey's name as a trade candidate. after watching him hit last night, this kid has a chance, first time i saw him play after reading all of the posts about him, and he was tattooing the ball on a line over the whole yard. matt, don't give up on him yet!
gm

[gmwannabe]

you're right squire, De Los Santos is WAY too much for bruce. WAY WAY too much.
gm

[saycheese]

Moniak is going to be a MLB player. He is putting it all together.I would say that Moniak could go in a bigger deal for pitching though. He and Hasley are really duplicate players.

I will say this, he is way too much for Jay Bruce to. Guys like Jay Bruce with their contracts should be traded fro cash considerations.

[tom81]

https://mobile.twitter.com/JSalisburyNBCS/status/1135189181716500481

Salisbury says it’s done.

[allentown]

I don't want Bruce. Lots of money against cap and reduced flexibility. I guess he is one of the ultimate 3 true outcomes guys. Delossantos seems steep for what is basically a big salary dump for Mariners. Bruce greatly reduces 2020 flexibility as well. Some posters talk as if this is great because he'd be a plus pinch hitter and guy off bench, but that is a humongous salary for that role.

[saycheese]

I don't think he is coming here to pinch hit. He is going to play left field with McCutchen going to center. Its too much money as it stands right now but if Seattle pays into it then it could become more palatable.

Also not cap in baseball. Just a tax and I don't think MIddleton gives a hoot about the tax he just wants to win.

[andyb]

I don't think he is coming here to pinch hit. He is going to play left field with McCutchen going to center

Agree, certainly in the platoon role that Williams was filling. Kingery will still play CF against LHP and later on maybe that will be Quinn. Bruce is here to play against RHP though. Figure 4 starts a week in a platoon.

We at least have a natural 1B alternative with Bruce. He has played there the last few years so we do get insurance there for the occasional rest day or injury.

[phillychuck]

Bruce, if the rumors are true, will play LF, Cutch will move to center, and Kingery will take most of Franco's playing time.

[frylock]

Makes sense, I suppose.

Not sure how to feel until we know for sure what we give up. EDLS would anger me in this deal. If we're picking up most of the money, I can't imagine it'd be anything substantial.

[andyb]

The early report that had the Phillies putting money into the deal was probably wrong, but it does seem to me we would be picking up the bulk of the $21 million owed. If I had to guess, whatever money the Mariners kick in will be this year to give us flexibility on staying below the luxury tax line. If that is the case we probably will retain at least $15 million of our $18 million of flexibility that we currently have.

Now if I were the Phillies GM and I had to put someone as good as EDLS in the deal, I'd probably be asking for Seattle's competitive balance pick (76 overall currently). Doubt that will happen though.

[zambonir]

I guess we'll see how they really use him. All indications are they've been pursuing a LH bench bat all along, Herrera merely increased the urgency to do it now instead of in July.

If it's De Los Santos I'm sure the money is much more favorable for the Phillies than we might think.

[Lucky_Beagle]

Where does the 18 million figure come from as compared to the 50 million figure mentioned here?

Considering the Phillies' $144.6 million Opening Day payroll, Nightengale notes the club is still "more than $50 million below the luxury tax," even after picking up most of Bruce's salary. Hence, the Bruce acquisition does not hinder the Phillies from making further moves.

[nycphils]

Considering the Phillies' $144.6 million Opening Day payroll, Nightengale notes the club is still "more than $50 million below the luxury tax," even after picking up most of Bruce's salary. Hence, the Bruce acquisition does not hinder the Phillies from making further moves.

I think Nightengale has bad info - pretty poor mistake for him to make, BTW. The Phillies have been about $18m under the tax threshold according to Cot’s Contracts:

Google Sheets

[Taudawg]

Cots had Phillies opening day payroll at 140 mil. Once you add the 14.5 mil for health and pension they would be around 155 mil. The tax doesn't kick in until 206. Seems like good room to make several moves this Summer. There are a number of contracts coming off the books after 19 and some arb players they might non-tender (i.e. Franco).

MLB Philadelphia 19 OD