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Report: Rangers, Blue Jays showing minimal interest in Bruce

Rich Schultz / Getty Images Sport / Getty

The New York Mets ambitions of trading from their surplus of outfielders went unrealized as the winter meetings came to a close Thursday in Maryland.

After signing Yoenis Cespedes to a record four-year, $110-million deal late last month, the Mets had been getting a number of calls regarding Curtis Granderson and Jay Bruce, with general manager Sandy Alderson believed to be more inclined to deal the latter.

While there's been strong interest from other clubs regarding Granderson, the same can't be said about Bruce, industry sources told Mike Puma of the New York Post.

Earlier this offseason, the Texas Rangers and Toronto Blue Jays were believed to be strong fits for Bruce, given previous interest. However, sources told Puma that both clubs are showing only "tepid interest" in the three-time All-Star.

Bruce has hit at least 20 home runs in all but one of his nine seasons in the majors, and is coming off a year in which he slashed .250/.309/.506 with 33 home runs, 27 doubles, and 99 RBIs over 147 games split between the Cincinnati Reds and Mets. The 29-year-old is owed $13 million next season in what will be the final year of his contract.

The Rangers agreed to a one-year deal with Carlos Gomez at the winter meetings and could be in need of adding one more outfielder. The Blue Jays, meanwhile, are currently in the market for Dexter Fowler, and could potentially circle back to Bruce later in the winter if they're unable to sign a free agent.

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