According to reports, free agent Jay Bruce signed a three-year deal with the New York Mets worth $39 million.
Bruce, 30, played in 146 games last season with the New York Mets and the Cleveland Indians. In 2017, he batted .254/.324/.508, had 29 doubles, two triples, 36 home runs, and drove in 101 runs with both teams.
Jay Bruce is going back to the #Mets, says source.
— Jerry Crasnick (@jcrasnick) January 11, 2018
Source confirms: Jay Bruce back to #Mets, three years, $39 million. Deal first reported by @Jerrycrasnick.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) January 11, 2018
Jay Bruce Signs With the New York Mets
Bruce played in 103 games with the Mets, had 20 doubles, 29 homers, 75 RBI, and batted .256/.321/.520. While playing with the Indians he had nine doubles, two triples, seven homers, 26 RBI, and batted .248/.331/.477 in 43 games. Bruce had a WAR of 2.9 during this season.
When Bruce joined the Indians, it marked the first time that he had played for a team in the American League. Bruce previously played with the Cincinnati Reds from 2008-2016, the Mets from 2016-2017, and the Indians to close out the 2017 season.
The power-hitting left fielder has spent 10 years in the majors. Throughout Bruce’s 10 year career he has played in 1,416 games, has batted .249/.319/.472, has 272 doubles, 29 triples, 277 home runs, drove in 838 runs, and averages about 158 strikeouts per season. He has played in right field, center field, left field, and first base throughout his career but has mainly played in right field.
Bruce is a 3-time All-Star making the team in 2011, 2012, and 2016. Bruce has also won the Silver Slugger Award in 2012 and 2013. During his rookie year in 2008, Bruce finished fifth in National League Rookie of the Year voting that was won by Cubs rookie Geovany Soto. Bruce finished 10th in voting for NL Most Valuable Player in 2012 and 2013. In 2012, the NL MVP was Giants catcher Buster Posey and in 2013, the NL MVP was Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen.
Bruce has played in two National League Wild Card Games, two National League Divisional Series, and one American League Divisional Series. All together Bruce has played in five postseason series. He has batted .250/.333/.538 in 15 postseason games, has 13 hits, three doubles, four homers, and 10 RBI.
Jay Bruce has a fielding percentage of .984 in the outfield through 10 seasons and has an overall fielding percentage of .983. Bruce has played 1,343 games in right field, 36 in center field, 11 in left field, 15 at first base, and has been the designated hitter for seven games.
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