Jerry Crasnick · @jcrasnick
14th Jan 2016 from TwitLonger
The #Reds continue to explore trade possibilities after sending Todd Frazier to the #WhiteSox and dealing Aroldis Chapman to the #Yankees. Brandon Phillips is most likely staying put after invoking his 10/5 service time rights to help scuttle a trade to the #Nationals. But sources say the Reds are still listening on Jay Bruce.
“We are still evaluating options,’’ general manager Dick Williams said in an email. “We do not consider our offseason to be finished. Deciding to focus on the long-term means you have to constantly evaluate opportunities. Trading Frazier and Chapman certainly begins to move us in the direction we need to go, as a small market team. Once you start down this road, it is important to continue with the tough decisions and not pull up in the middle of the project. That being said, we cannot force deals so I cannot guarantee we will do more.’’
Three potential impediments to a Bruce trade: 1) He’s coming off two straight subpar years, so his value isn’t exactly high right now; 2) he can block trades to eight clubs; and 3) Colorado has a surplus of lefty-hitting outfielders and might be poised to trade one of them, so teams with an interest in that commodity have another place to turn beyond Cincinnati.