MLB trade rumors: Mets’ Jay Bruce, Curtis Granderson clear revocable trade waivers

Mets outfielders Jay Bruce and Curtis Granderson have cleared revocable trade waivers, as Ken Rosenthal of FOX and MLB Network reported first.

Now that the two veteran outfielders have cleared waivers, the Mets are free to market them as trade chips this month. Bruce has an eight-team no-trade clause which allows him to reject trades to the Yankees, Phillies, Marlins, Twins, Diamondbacks, Athletics, Rays and Blue Jays. With that said, Rosenthal reports that Bruce, who is a free agent at the end of the season, would “almost certainly” approve a trade to a club in contention.

While most major-league players are passed through revocable waivers during August and many of them clear, it’s mildly surprising that Bruce managed to pass through unclaimed. If traded, the 30-year-old outfielder has the potential to make a real impact for a contender, as he was hitting .260/.324/.528 with 29 homers in 441 plate appearances entering play on Saturday. For what it’s worth in an era where outfield defense is as highly-valued as it’s ever been, Bruce has long been regarded as a below-average defender, though his six defensive runs saved rank fourth among qualifying major-league right fielders this season according to FanGraphs.

Meanwhile, the 36-year-old Granderson is at the tail end of a 14-season major-league career and has been reduced to a bench role over the past couple months as Michael Conforto has seized an everyday role in New York. Granderson, who is also a free agent after the season, was hitting .223/.330/.446 with 14 homers in 358 plate appearances entering Saturday’s game. He still provides some solid pop, can get on base, is capable of playing all three outfield positions, and is a veteran of 51 postseason games, meaning he might be an interesting bench piece for a contender.