The Seattle Mariners traded outfielder Jay Bruce and cash considerations to the Philadelphia Phillies on Sunday for minor-league third baseman Jake Scheiner, the clubs announced.
Philadelphia will get about $18 million from Seattle, according to Matt Gelb of The Athletic. Bruce is in the second season of a three-year contract worth $39 million.
The Phillies are only responsible for roughly $2.75 million of Bruce's remaining salary, with a little over $1 million applying to this year's luxury-tax threshold, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.
The veteran slugger said he will meet the Phillies in San Diego on Monday, according to Greg Johns of MLB.com. Bruce, a three-time All-Star, added that he's happy to be joining a contender.
"Obviously, I've spent most of my career in the National League and multiple years in the NL East," he said. "I look forward to going over there and helping the Phillies hopefully win a championship. That's my goal. I just want to win.”
Bruce has now been traded in four straight calendar years. He was dealt from the Cincinnati Reds to the New York Mets in 2016, from the Mets to the Cleveland Indians in 2017, from the Mets to Seattle in 2018, and now to Philadelphia in the latest move.
The Phillies will count on him to provide outfield depth, as Odubel Herrera is currently on administrative leave amid an assault investigation.
The 32-year-old Bruce is slashing .212/.283./.533 with 14 home runs and 28 RBIs this season. He's hit 30-plus homers five times in his 12-year MLB career.
In Scheiner, Seattle gets a former 2017 fourth-round pick from the University of Houston. Despite making the deal, some in the Phillies organization were high on the 23-year-old, who can play multiple positions, believing he has a shot to be a big-league utility player, according to Gelb.
The Bruce trade could be the first of many moves for the Mariners with the team reportedly in sell mode. Established MLB players such as Edwin Encarnacion, Ryon Healy, Dee Gordon, Tim Beckham, and Mike Leake have all been discussed in trade talks, according to reports.
After starting the campaign 13-2, Seattle has gone 12-34 and sits 15 games behind the Houston Astros for the top spot in the AL West entering Sunday's action.
