Sitting in limbo: Reds' Jay Bruce, Brewers' Lucroy surprised they're not dealt
It is the most awkward and anxious spring training of their careers, spending their entire lives in one organization, but knowing they no longer are part of the future.
Cincinnati Reds right fielder Jay Bruce and Milwaukee Brewers catcher Jonathan Lucroy show up each day to work, wondering when that phone call will arrive, telling them to take off their uniform of the only teams they have known.
Opening Day is just 11 days away, and honestly, they can’t believe they’re still here.
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Bruce and his wife, Hannah, whose first baby, Carter, is due April 23, thought a month ago they’d be gone, preparing to play their home games in a foreign country. Now, they are trying to pretend it’s business as usual, and will be back in their Cincinnati home this summer.
Lucroy, so sure he’d be traded by now, still doesn’t have a place to live in Milwaukee. He’s scrambling now to find a rental for his wife, Sarah, and their 5-year-old daughter, Ellia.
“It’s such a weird feeling,’’ said Lucroy, who has been with the Brewers since 2007. “You don’t know where you’re at, what’s going on, what the plan is. I felt like I was going to get traded five times this off-season. I don’t know why it didn’t go down.
“So I have no idea what’s going to happen. And not knowing is very difficult.”
Bruce thought he was traded almost the day he arrived to camp. He hadn’t even unpacked his suitcase when there were widespread reports that the Reds, Toronto Blue Jays and Los Angeles Angels had agreed on a three-way trade. Bruce was headed to Toronto. Outfielder Michael Saunders was going to Anaheim. And the Reds were getting prospects.
The Reds had even agreed to pay about $8 million of Bruce’s $12.5 million salary in the deal. The deal collapsed when medical issues emerged regarding one of the players.
“It sounds like the effort they were making to trade me was pretty diligent,’’ Bruce said, “so it’s a big surprise that I came out on the other end of it so far. I still would like to stay here. I’ve been here since I was 18, and I always wanted to finish my career here.
“But I’m not naive to the fact that something could happen at any moment.’’
The Reds and Brewers are launching full-fledged rebuilding projects; Bruce is the Reds’ most valuable trade chip, with second baseman Brandon Phillips twice exercising his no-trade clause. And All-Star first baseman Joey Votto isn’t about to go anywhere.
“In a perfect world, I would stay here because this is where I want to be,’’ Bruce said. “I mean, this is all I know.’’
Lucroy thought he was almost traded a month ago, too. The Brewers were engaged in talks involving the Atlanta Braves and Houston Astros in a three-way deal that failed to materialize. The Brewers have attached an exorbitant price tag on Lucroy’s value, and who can blame them? Lucroy, an All-Star catcher in 2014, is being paid just $4.25 million this year with a $5.25 million option in 2017. Yet, until someone is willing to meet their demands, he remains a Brewer.
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“I really don’t know what my role is or if what they want me to help develop guys during this process,’’ Lucroy said. “I think the best approach is to bank on being in Milwaukee all year, and kind of seeing what happens from there.
“It’s all out of your control. But communication is a big thing. I’d like to be kept up to date what’s going on. It’s not like I’m going to spread it all around, I just want to know when it’s coming, when to expect it.’’
Still, Lucroy isn’t expecting any advance notice. There rarely is these days. The moment the Brewers get an offer they like, he’s gone.
Lucroy, who like Bruce can reject a trade to eight teams, once was hoping to be with the Brewers his entire career. Yet, when his request for a contract extension was denied last spring, he had a feeling his days could be numbered. Now, with a new general manager, David Stearns, and front office, there’s no true allegiances. He can be used for a bobblehead doll day, and two promotional giveaways this summer where the Brewers give out his replica jerseys on May 15 and backpacks Aug. 28, but there’s no assurance he’ll be around to see them.
Lucroy is diplomatic when asked if he wants out of Milwaukee. Then again, it really doesn’t matter. It’s not his choice.
“I just want to win,’’ he said. “If I’m still here, I want to win in Milwaukee. If I’ll get traded, I’ll do my best to win there.’’
Bruce, who will turn 29 on the eve of opening day, makes it adamantly clear he never wants to leave. He actually blames himself for this situation. A two-time All-Star, he averaged 32 homers and 102 RBI for three years in 2011-2013. Yet, he hit just .217 with 18 homers and a .654 OPS in 2014, and .226 with 26 homers and a .729 OPS last season.
“I had two years that were pretty poor,’’ Bruce said. “In order for me to have a chance to stay here, I need to play better. We’ll see what happens. I never changed my sentiment, wanting to be part of this for the long haul. I don’t think we were terribly far away from being a competitive team again.
“But obviously, I have to do my part to even have a chance.’’
Then again, if Bruce performed better over the last two years, he probably would already be in a different uniform. The Baltimore Orioles had extensive trade talks with the Reds before signing Pedro Alvarez earlier this month. The Chicago White Sox, who saved $13 million with Adam LaRoche’s retirement, could have interest.
Bruce would love to know his fate, but refuses to complain, saying he knew this was the deal when he was selected by the Reds as the 12th pick in the 2005 draft.
“Obviously, it’s tough on my family right now, and the baby makes it more logistically complicated,’’ Bruce said. “But at the same time, we signed up for this. This life is what afforded us to things we enjoy doing. So this is part of the business.
“I’m not the first guy or the last guy that will be in limbo. But this is the world we live in. We’re the employees. They’re the bosses. We have to do what they say.’’
It’s baseball, the other side of the game.
Nightengale reported from Phoenix and Goodyear, Ariz.
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