Best Potential Jay Bruce Trade Packages and Landing Spots

Coming off a 2014 season that was disappointing for both the Cincinnati Reds and Jay Bruce, it's being reported the club might be dangling the two-time All-Star outfielder, according to Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports.

The Reds are very much at a crossroads heading into 2015. Following a 76-86 campaign that was marred by injuries to a number of their key players, including Joey Votto, Homer Bailey, Brandon Phillips and Bruce, they could aim to keep the core together for another shot.

But the payroll is climbing, and four of their starting pitchers—Johnny Cueto, Mat Latos, Mike Leake and Alfredo Simon—have only one season left before they reach free agency.

So the other option is to make some pre-emptive moves to bring in players who are both younger and have several years of team control.

As Rosenthal writes: "Though club officials say the team is merely listening on players rather than shopping them, a trade of Bruce for more cost-effective talent would be a major step toward retooling with a lower payroll in 2015."

Last season was the worst of Bruce's seven-year career, as he hit just .217/.281/.373 with just 18 home runs. That can be attributed at least in part to the fact that the right fielder underwent left knee surgery in early May and missed less than three weeks but might not have been at full strength for much of the year.

That makes the timing here a bit odd: Bruce's value on the trade market isn't exactly at its highest point.

Still, the lefty slugger is a good candidate to bounce back to his previous levels of performance, considering he is only 27 years old and had a run of four straight seasons with at least 25 homers and an OPS north of .800 prior to last year.

Besides that, Bruce's contract is rather reasonable; he's owed $12 million in 2015, $12.5 million in 2016 and has a $13 million option in 2017 (with a $1 million buyout).

Aside from getting younger and cheaper, the Reds' biggest needs are at shortstop and left field.

"We're still talking to both agents and clubs about trades," Reds general manager Walt Jocketty said via John Fay of the The Cincinnati Enquirer. "We really aren't close on anything."

With so much pitching available in both free agency and trades, clubs are yearning for offense, especially power, and Bruce provides just that. He'll be a hot commodity and a good fit for a number of teams who have the desire and the means to acquire him.

Like these.

San Diego Padres

Lenny Ignelzi/Associated Press

Trade Proposal

Cincinnati Reds get: RHP Tyson Ross

San Diego Padres get: OF Jay Bruce

The San Diego Padres already have talked to the Reds about the possibility of getting Bruce, per Rosenthal's report. The offensively inept Padres could use all the hitting help they can get, so that makes sense.

So does the chance to get Tyson Ross for the Reds. Like Bruce, Ross is 27 years old and under team control through the 2017 season. Unlike Bruce, however, the right-hander is coming off his best year yet, having posted a 2.81 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 9.0 K/9 in a career-high 195.2 innings.

While Ross doesn't solve the Reds' problems at shortstop or left field, he would give them an in-his-prime arm, making it easier to trade one of Cueto, Latos, Leake or Simon for other pieces.

Cleveland Indians

Tony Dejak/Associated Press

Trade Proposal

Cincinnati Reds get: RHP Danny Salazar and SS Jose Ramirez

Cleveland Indians get: OF Jay Bruce

Francisco Lindor, arguably the top shortstop prospect in baseball, likely would be unattainable, unless the Reds were willing to go big and package, say, Bruce with Latos. That actually might make sense for Cleveland, which has the look of a team that could make noise in the AL Central in 2015 as is.

But for now, let's figure that Lindor is off limits and turn instead toward infielder Jose Ramirez, who held down the shortstop fort after taking over in July following the trade of Asdrubal Cabrera. A speedy switch-hitter who is still only 21 and can handle both second and short is a nice piece to have.

The bigger get, though, would be Danny Salazar, the hard-throwing 24-year-old right-hander who blew up late in 2013 but struggled early last year, compiling a 5.53 ERA and getting demoted in mid-May. Salazar did find his groove upon re-entering the Indians rotation in late July, posting a 3.50 ERA and 73 strikeouts in 69.1 frames.

Cleveland would bring in a big bat for right field, which was a problem spot in 2014, and Cincinnati would net a pair of intriguing young big league-ready players. A potential intra-Ohio win-win swap.

Chicago White Sox

Paul Sancya/Associated Press

Trade Proposal

Cincinnati Reds get: SS Alexei Ramirez and OF Dayan Viciedo

Chicago White Sox get: OF Jay Bruce and SS Zack Cozart

Alexei Ramirez has been at the center of a lot of speculation already this offseason, having been linked to a number of interested suitors, including the Los Angeles Dodgers as well as the New York Yankees and Mets, according to Bruce Levine of CBS Chicago.

The Reds would be another possible fit, given that they absolutely must get more offensive production out of shortstop than what Zack Cozart has provided. While Cozart is one of the best defenders at the position, his career OBP is a putrid .281, and he triple-slashed an ugly .221/.268/.300 last year.

Ramirez isn't an OBP-type either (.314 career), but he at least has the pop and speed to make up for it, having knocked 35 doubles and 15 homers while stealing 21 bases in 2014. His contract calls for $10 million in 2015 and a 2016 option for the same amount, making him a reasonably priced upgrade.

Viciedo, meanwhile, could be a worthy flier to take a shot on for left field, as he's still only 25 and has hit 20-plus home runs in two of the past three seasons. He also has three years left of team control.

For Chicago, Bruce's power would continue to play well at hitter-friendly U.S. Cellular Field, and his lefty bat and veteran presence would help cover for the recent retirements of Adam Dunn and Paul Konerko.

Seattle Mariners

Mark J. Terrill/Associated Press

Trade Proposal

Cincinnati Reds get: LHP James Paxton and INF Brad Miller

Seattle Mariners get: OF Jay Bruce

This return looks a lot like the one the Reds would get from the Indians: a former top prospect pitcher and a young infielder who can cover multiple positions.

Left-hander James Paxton, 26, is coming off a strong—albeit injury-interrupted—2014 campaign, in which he sported a 3.04 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 7.2 K/9 in 74.0 innings (13 starts). He missed a little more than half the season with a shoulder ailment, but he returned to pitch well in all but one of his final 11 turns and has the big arm of a No. 3 starter.

Brad Miller, on the other hand, struggled through almost the entirety of his first full year in the majors, hitting just .221/.288/.365. But he's only 25 years old and does have 54 extra-base hits in just over a season's worth of plate appearances (746) in his first two years. The potential remains for Miller to develop and improve, and he can also play both middle infield spots.

Considering the Mariners possess plenty of pitching depth and also have Chris Taylor as a capable alternative to Miller at short, Seattle likely would jump at the chance to bring in a proven 30-homer slugger like Bruce to team with Robinson Cano and Kyle Seager, even if he would be another lefty.

Statistics are accurate through the 2014 season and courtesy of MLB.com, Baseball-Reference.com and FanGraphs unless otherwise noted.

To talk baseball or fantasy baseball, check in with me on Twitter: @JayCat11.