Report: Blue Jays' trade for Bruce stalled over medicals

A proposed three-team trade that would see the Toronto Blue Jays acquire outfielder Jay Bruce from the Cincinnati Reds is reportedly on hold because of medical concerns with at least one of the players involved in the deal.

The proposed deal, according to Jon Heyman of MLB Network, included the Blue Jays sending oft-injured outfielder Michael Saunders to the Angels, and the Reds receiving prospects to complete their return for Bruce. Sources tell ESPN's Jerry Crasnick that Saunders' troublesome knee, which limited him to just nine games last season, appears to be holding up the deal.

Initial reports Monday indicated the deal was moving toward completion, but as the night progressed, the multi-team swap appeared to be losing momentum. ESPN's Buster Olney characterized the deal for now as "dead," according to sources.

Multiple reports said that Bruce, who turns 29 in April, removed the Blue Jays from his no-trade list earlier this winter. The Reds outfielder is owed $12.5 million next season, and carries a 2017 team option valued at $13 million.

A two-time All-Star, Bruce hit .257/.332/.488 with 96 home runs in 472 games from 2011-13, but has struggled to find consistency since, posting a below league average OPS+ for two straight seasons and managing the fewest homers of his career in 2014. He reclaimed some of that lost power last season, when he rebounded to hit 26 homers and 35 doubles in 157 games.

Saunders, meanwhile, missed almost all of the 2015 season after slipping on a sprinkler head during spring training and tearing the meniscus in his left knee. The 29-year-old outfielder, who's played in just 87 games since the beginning of 2014, had been expected to compete for a starting job this spring with the Blue Jays.