By Tim Kelly, Sports Talk Philly editor 
The Philadelphia Phillies are probably one piece away from completing their major league roster for 2017, but it doesn't appear that New York Mets outfielder Jay Bruce will be the piece that the Phillies end up adding.
According to Jim Salisbury of Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia, the price-tag on Bruce will likely keep the Phillies from coming close to completing a trade for the 29-year-old:
The Phillies have had longstanding interest in Jay Bruce, who is on the Mets’ trading block, but sources say the price for him is two prospects. The rebuilding Phillies are committed to hanging on to their prospects.
Bruce has been a name mentioned as a potential lefthanded bat that the Phillies could target this offseason, which makes sense when you consider that according to Matt Gelb of the Philadelphia Inquirer, the team had trade talks for him last Spring Training when he was still playing for the Cincinnati Reds. However, Bruce has a hefty $13 million salary next year, which would be on top of trading a couple prospects for him.
Salisbury pointed to Michael Saunders and Brandon Moss, as two lefthanded hitting outfielders that the Phillies could potentially sign as their search for a veteran lefthanded bat winds down.
Whichever lefthanded hitting outfielder the Phillies sign, he will join a very young outfielder. Odubel Herrera, coming off of a five-year extension, will start in center field. Howie Kendrick may end up being a super utility man, but he figures to open the season in left field. Then Aaron Altherr, Roman Quinn and Tyler Goeddell will be competing for the final two spots in the outfield, with veteran Daniel Nava, who was invited to Spring Training, also in the mix. Prospects Nick Williams and Dylan Cozens, both of whom will be in major league camp to open Spring Training, are also on the horizon.
