Former Mets outfielder Jay Bruce said he wasn't as surprised at being traded for the third time in the past two and a half years.

"Honestly, it's just another trade now," Bruce said, according to the New York Post's Mike Puma, after he was included in the seven-player blockbuster trade that brought Robinson Cano and Edwin Diaz to New York. "The third trade doesn't hold quite the shock as the first couple do."

The Mets dealt Bruce, Anthony Swarzak and three prospects -- OF Jarred Kelenic and RHPs Justin Dunn and Gerson Bautista -- to the Mariners for Diaz, the 24-year-old All-Star closer and Cano, the veteran second baseman who has five years remaining on his 10-year deal.

"I know they wanted to make a splash and shore up the bullpen and obviously they did that with getting the closer from Seattle," Bruce said. "And Robbie Cano obviously has a track record. I think [GM] Brodie Van Wagenen is going to come in and really try to make his mark and do what he thinks is necessary in order to point the team in the right direction. I wish everybody there the best."

Bruce said Van Wagenen, the new Mets general manager who took over last month, was "transparent and truthful and honest" throughout all their conversations as the trade rumors swirled over the past few days.

"That is something for me being in this game a long time, that is something I really appreciate and value from someone that is in the front office, because they don't have to do that," he said. "That is something that is not imperative and doesn't always happen. Keeping me in the loop and that doesn't happen very often. I wished him all the best. I have a lot of people that I grew close to there."

Of course, Bruce is no stranger to being traded.

He became a Met in August 2016 at the trade deadline when New York acquired him from the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for Dilson Herrera and Max Wotell.

The next August, the Mets dumped him to the Cleveland Indians for prospect Ryder Ryan.

But Bruce re-signed with New York on a three-year, $39 million deal last offseason, and after an injury-plagued 2018 season in which he hit just .223/.310/.370 with nine home runs and 37 RBIs, he leaves New York once again.

"If I am on the field playing and healthy, then performance is not an issue," Bruce said. "I just hope people in New York remember me as a guy who wanted to play and play well and not a lot of frills. I was honest and I was truthful and tried not to cause too much commotion, one way or another."

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