MLB Rumors: Blue Jays likely to pursue Jay Bruce

The Blue Jays will probably go after Jay Bruce in free agency, according to Nick Cafardo of The Boston Globe.

Cafardo says Bruce is “expected to draw interest” from Toronto because it had looked into acquiring him this season. They also had almost acquired him in 2016 in a three-way deal with the Angels and the Reds, who Bruce previously played for before going to the Mets. However, the 30-year-old Bruce was traded to the Indians from New York in August.

Bruce ended up with a .248/.331/.477 slash line with the Tribe, helped them pull away in the regular season by contributing to their American League record 22-game winning streak (hit a walk-off single for win No. 22) and was the only one Indian who could hit against the Yankees during the ALDS, where Cleveland lost in five games. Bruce finished the year with 36 home runs and 101 RBI overall.

The Blue Jays could use Bruce in both their lineup and the outfield, which was regarded as one of the worst in baseball this season. Slugger Jose Bautista, the team’s star right fielder, is a free agent this year as well and they have a below-average platoon in left field in Ezequiel Carrera and Steve Pearce.