The Yankees added a potential low-risk, high-reward bat on Saturday by reportedly signing a name Mets fans know very well.
According to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, the Yankees have signed veteran outfielder Jay Bruce to a minor-league deal worth $1.35 million if he makes the team.
The 33-year-old has dealt with injuries over the past two seasons with the Mariners and Phillies, but he’s still a home run threat every time he digs in. In the last two seasons alone, Bruce has hit 32 home runs in just 406 at-bats, or one about every 12.7 at-bats, though he’s slashed just .212/.259/.510 during that span.
Bruce has spent 13 years at the big-league level, including his first nine years in Cincinnati. He’s also had two separate stints with the Mets, playing 247 regular season games with the team, slugging 46 home runs.
At this point in his career, Bruce can play left field in a pinch, though he’s better suited as a designated hitter, which likely limited his free agency options to American League teams since the universal DH has not been implemented for the 2021 season as of yet.
If the move pans out for the Yankees, Bruce could provide some left-handed pop in what is a very right-handed lineup for the Yankees, featuring the likes of Aaron Judge, Luke Voit, Giancarlo Stanton, and others.
Meanwhile, Rosenthal also reports that the Yankees added Bruce does not preclude the team from re-signing veteran Brett Gardner, who reportedly “definitely” still plans on playing in 2021.