Deadline buzz: Bruce an Apple of Mets’ eye?

Many potential deals are in the works as the non-waiver Trade Deadline — Monday at 4 p.m. ET — approaches. Here is a look at the latest news, reports and rumors.

Mets, Dodgers eyeing BruceJay Bruce has been scratched from Sunday’s lineup as talks regarding the Reds outfielder intensify leading up to Monday’s non-waiver Trade Deadline.

Manager Bryan Price told reporters Bruce was being held out of the lineup as a mental day, not because of any imminent trade.

Shortly after reports said the Mets were out Sunday morning, others indicated that New York is back in on the lefty-hitting outfielder. ESPN’s Jayson Stark reported Saturday that the Reds are not asking for “elite prospects” from the Mets, but rather for two or three good players a notch below elite status.

The Dodgers also remain in discussions with the Reds about a possible deal, according to MLB.com’s Jon Paul Morosi, who reported that such a deal would likely remain between the two clubs, as opposed to being a three-team swap, as was widely reported on Friday. MLB Network’s Jon Heyman confirmed the Dodgers’ interest, while MLB Network’s Ken Rosenthal also reported that the Giants are among the teams still in the mix for Bruce.

The Rangers also are interested, as Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News reported on Saturday that Texas had at least one scout present at the Reds-Padres contest on Friday night in San Diego to take a look at the slugger.

ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick’s previously reported as many as six to eight teams are “still in the mix” for Bruce.

Cubs after a Rays starter? The Cubs could be targeting one of the Rays’ starting pitchers, according to multiple reports on Saturday.

ESPN’s Jim Bowden and the Tampa Bay Times’ Marc Topkin both reported that they’d heard the Cubs were “in pursuit” of a Rays starter, most likely left-hander Matt Moore or right-hander Jake Odorizzi.

Both Moore and Odorizzi have been linked to multiple teams in trade talks. On Friday, sources told Yahoo Sports’ Jeff Passan that Moore was the likeliest Rays pitcher to be dealt before Monday’s Deadline.

Odorizzi pitched Friday and beat the Yankees with 6 2/3 shutout innings. Topkin reported that at least 10 teams had scouts at Friday’s game — the Giants, Indians, Dodgers, White Sox, Royals, Blue Jays, Cubs, Marlins, Orioles and Rangers.

Orioles showing interest in Mariners’ Miley Adding depth at the back end of the rotation is a primary need for the Orioles, who have opened conversations with the Mariners about possibly trading for Wade Miley, Heyman reported on Saturday.

Heyman reported that the Mariners are shopping the veteran left-hander to multiple teams. Seattle general manager Jerry Dipoto has stated that he intends to keep young starters Taijuan Walker and James Paxton.

The Orioles saw the slow erosion of their lead in the AL East come to a head with a 9-1 loss on Saturday to Toronto, which took over the division lead by a half-game. Baltimore has been trying to address its rotation issues for weeks now; the team’s starters owned a collective 4.98 ERA — third worst in the Junior Circuit — entering Saturday’s games.

Meanwhile, Miley improved his own stock on Saturday, holding the Cubs hitless through the first six innings before eventually settling for one run allowed over seven strong frames at Wrigley Field. For the year, Miley is 7-8 with a 1.35 WHIP and 6.59 strikeouts per nine innings over 19 starts.

Tigers hope to bolster rotation The Tigers are still within range of …

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