Welcome Back, Jay Bruce!

by Brian Erni January 10, 2018

Multiple reports have confirmed the Mets have reunited with outfielder Jay Bruce.

Source confirms: Jay Bruce back to #Mets, three years, $39 million. Deal first reported by @Jerrycrasnick.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) January 11, 2018

Ken Rosenthal says it's a three-year, $39 million contract, and frankly, I think that's great value.

The Mets need to protect against two points of volatility: Michael Conforto's health and Dom Smith potentially not being ready for a full-time gig. This accomplishes both of those goals.

Bruce can slot into right field until Conforto is healthy (provided he won't be ready to go for Opening Day). Once Conforto returns, Bruce can either move to first base (if Smith is struggling and/or Juan Lagares has finally nailed down the center field job), or stay put in right and have Conforto play center.

And Bruce's left handed power bat should slide in right where it did in the lineup last year: behind Yoenis Cespedes, which bolsters the lineup nicely. What's more, he's proven he can play in this city, and he even knows his new skipper from his time in Cleveland.

For $13 million per year, that's a solid value, and one that should make the Mets much better than they were yesterday, while still allowing them to remain in on an upgrade for the infield. Well done, Sandy.