The 2010 MLB winter meetings are in the books and the market has been set.
After watching Carl Crawford, Adam Dunn and Jason Werth rake in the dough, most of baseball's GM's are angry at the amount of cash being thrown around. Carlos Pena, who hit under .200 last season, scored a $10 million contract from the Chicago Cubs.
Then there are the Cincinnati Reds.
General manager Walt Jocketty went to the meetings in search of a lead-off man. When a player in the Reds price range wasn't available, Jocketty decided to focus on signing players on his own roster.
2010 National League MVP Joey Votto has avoided any and all questions regarding a long-term contract. So the Reds decided to lock-up the next young stud in line.
The 23 year-old Jay Bruce will be a Cincinnati Red for a long time after signing a huge contract this week. Bruce’s deal is for $51 million over six years with an option for a seventh at $12 million.
Is this a contract the Reds will regret when they are shelling out over $10 million for his services in 2016?
Or are the Reds getting a bargain for a young star that has yet to reach his potential?
Aside from a awful slump in July, Bruce had a encouraging 2010 season. He hit .281 with 25 homers and 70 RBI, and one division clinching home run. He made a huge improvement in his performance against left handed pitching, raising his average 67 points to .277.
He is a sure handed right fielder that was in contention for a gold glove this past season. He had seven assists and committed only three errors in 356 chances over 146 games.
He is a 23 year-old that already has 68 career homers. When his contract runs out he will only be 30. So the risk of shelling out big bucks to an over-the-hill Bruce wont be an issue till his next contract.
He has endured two significant injuries in his major league tenor. He broke his wrist while diving to catch a fly ball in '09, and had a hip issue this past season. Neither injury leads you to think there will be lingering issues and he has never had a knee or elbow injury.
Why could this deal come back to haunt the Reds?
Throwing $51 million at a 23 year-old that has had one good season is a big risk for a small market team. Bruce's career average is a mere .257. He practically cost the Reds Game 2 of the NLDS with his huge error on a routine fly ball against the Phillies.
He only hit six homers away from Great American "Small" Park. In 44 games against winning teams in 2010, Bruce hit two home runs with 11 RBI (courtesy of Lance McAlister).
Anytime the Reds throw around $51 million the fan base is going to be weary (cough CoCo Cordero cough), but it looks as if the Reds made the right move.
Lock up a guy that wants to be Red and has yet to hit his prime before the demand will be much higher. It's not unrealistic to assume that his production will only increase in his third full season in the bigs. He has demonstrated a strong work ethic in his ability to vastly improve his batting average against lefties.
He has never gotten in trouble and respects the game. Never heard of Bruce in any sort of drama or controversy.
Overall this was a great move by the Reds and a positive sign for the future. Watching the 31 year-old Werth cash in for over $120 million caused Jocketty to act now so the franchise wouldn't be crying later.
The Reds are very young and signing long term deals before the player explodes on the scene nationally is essential. Votto is going to be more expensive, and the Reds want to save room for him and Johnny Cueto as well.
This is the first step in showing the players on the team and around MLB that the Reds are committed to winning and will spend the money to do it.
Bruce is now one of the faces of the franchise and the Reds will not be worrying about right field for a long time. Bruce is now set for the next six to seven years financially at 23. How many people his age can say that?
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