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Mike Krukow gives theory as to why Giants passed on Jay Bruce

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The hot stove season has been frigid up until this point, but things warmed up a tad bit on Wednesday night when the New York Mets re-signed outfield slugger Jay Bruce to a three-year, $39 million contract. Bruce was one of the few free agents that the Giants had been linked to, as they are still without at least two everyday outfielders on their roster.

Giants broadcaster Mike Krukow didn’t seem that bummed that the Giants passed on Bruce when he joined Murph & Mac Thursday morning, and argued that the 10-year veteran might not have been the greatest fit in San Francisco.

“I think the Giants definitely liked what he brought, but I think there are some parts about Jay Bruce that are a bit frustrating,” Krukow said. “I think he’s streaky. I think he’s a bit like Brandon Belt in that he can carry a team for a couple of weeks and then all of the sudden disappear. In the National League West there is a lot of left handed pitching, and that is not his strength. It could’ve worked out, but I think the Giants feel they perhaps have better options. So it’s just going to be a matter of being patient to see what those better options are going to be.”

While Bruce’s 36 home runs last year would’ve been the best on the Giants by a significant margin, only nine of those came against left-handed pitching, and Bruce had a .222 average against left-handers overall. Bruce’s OPS was actually decent against lefties (.716), but Kruk isn’t convinced.

“Remember when you craft a team, there are some guys out there that are nice players. Nice players in certain divisions against certain competition in their own division. It doesn’t necessarily apply to your division, and I think when you go out and get a left-handed hitter you feel is going to be an impactful player in the middle of your lineup, he’s got to be a guy that can do damage in your division. You’re going to have the majority of your season in your division. I don’t know if the Giants truly felt that Bruce was a National League West player. I think in the end that may have been the evaluation that pushed it to a different direction.”

Listen to the full interview below. To get Kruk’s take on Bruce, start at 1:00.