The Philadelphia Phillies might be closing in on their first big acquisition of the season, reportedly nearing a deal to acquire outfielder Jay Bruce from the Seattle Mariners.
According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, the deal is in the final stages and could be finalized within the next 24 hours.
If the deal becomes official and Bruce lands with the Phillies, he should provide an excellent source of left-handed power for a team that has reportedly been seeking it for weeks.
Bruce hit 14 home runs, 11 doubles and collected 28 RBI across 47 games with the Mariners this season. While his .212 batting average is low, his ability to play first base and the corner outfield along with his power from the left side fills a need for Philadelphia.
He is under contract through the 2020 season with a $14.5M annual salary in 2019 and 2020. Bruce could see time in left field on days when Andrew McCutchen shifts to center field, but he’ll primarily provide power off the bench.