As the first half of the 2016 season has come and gone, the Los Angeles Dodgers currently sit at 51-40, which has them leading the National League Wild Card race, but is not good enough for the division lead as the San Francisco Giants are currently 6.5 games ahead in the NL West.
Injuries have been a theme of the season so far for the Dodgers, particularly for the starting rotation and outfield. Because of this, Los Angeles has been linked to trade targets that would address their pitching staff and group of outfielders.
For the latter, that applied to Cincinnati Reds outfielder Jay Bruce, who is no stranger to trade rumors.
According to Bill Shaikin of the LA Times, Bruce hopes that if he is traded this season, it’s to a club that is in postseason contention.
“If I do get moved, I just want a chance to play deep in October,” he said. “I would assume that any team that would try to make a move for me would feel like they’re in that position.”
The Dodgers fit that description, which Bruce openly acknowledged:
He would not say what teams might intrigue him but did say he “absolutely” thought the Dodgers could play deep into October.
Bruce has a limited no-trade clause that reportedly allows him to block trades to the Arizona Diamondbacks, Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees, among others.
The 29-year-old Bruce is currently having one of the best seasons of his career and it earned him a third trip to the All-Star Game. He is batting .267/.315/.538 with 18 home runs 63 RBIs, and ranks as one of the best-hitting outfielders in recent years.
The Dodgers have dealt with the Reds before, as they had a trade in place over the offseason to acquire closer Aroldis Chapman that fell through because of a domestic violence issue that came to light.
Later in the offseason, the Dodgers completed a trade with the Reds that also involved the Chicago White Sox. It sent Trayce Thompson, Frankie Montas and Micah Johnson to Los Angeles. Bruce could bolster a Dodgers outfield that’s lacked a power left-handed bat in Andre Ethier’s absence.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts recently said it’s plausible Ethier returns by Aug. 2, though the odds don’t appear to be in the veteran’s favor.
