:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/65698562/1176431204.jpg.0.jpg)
The Numbers
Overall: .216/.261/.523, 26 HR, 59 RBI, 0.6 WAR
With the Phillies: .221/.235/.510, 12 HR, 31 RBI, 0.3 WAR
The Good
Jay Bruce’s timing was the best part of his 2019 season. The Phillies traded for him on June 2, hoping he would be a good improvement to the bench. Instead, he became an every-day starter when Andrew McCutchen’s season ended the next day. His first week in a Phillies uniform was a great one, too. He hit four home runs and collected 11 RBIs in that time, on his way to being named the National League player of the week.
Jay Bruce has been on the Phillies for one week. It was one very good week.
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) June 10, 2019
Congratulations, Jay! pic.twitter.com/HUDGcTOPzF
His success didn’t stop after that first week, either.
Jay Bruce has 12 career walk-off hits.
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) June 27, 2019
This one is our favorite. #TipOfTheCap pic.twitter.com/JzKQaRpheT
The Bad
At first, this was the only bad thing about acquiring Bruce:
The thing that really pisses me off about the Phillies getting Bruce is that I finally got my phone to stop correcting Bryce to Bruce and now not only will I be typing both Bryce and Bruce, but it wants to correct Bruce to Bryce.
— Allie (@mustang__sallie) June 2, 2019
Of course, there were eventually other bad things too. On July 17 Bruce was placed on the 10-day IL with an oblique strain. He returned on August 8, but the next day he was placed back on the IL with a flexor strain. He returned in September, but by then the Phillies were so far out of the race that having him on the bench didn’t really have any impact.
The Future
Bruce is signed through the 2020 season, so unless the Phillies trade him (which they won’t), he will be back next season. In the trade, Seattle retained nearly all of his salary, which means the Phillies are getting a great player off the bench and are paying him next to nothing.