Trade market dwindling for Mets' Bruce

Jay Bruce knocks a grounder through the hole in left-center to plate Yoenis Cespedes and extend the Mets' lead to 5-1 in the top of the 8thNEW YORK -- In two blinks of an eye this weekend, Jose Bautista zeroed in on a deal to return to the Blue Jays, while the Phillies agreed to terms with Michael Saunders. Those bits of news landed about a week after the Orioles traded for Seth Smith, fortifying an outfield in need of left-handed thump.

Just like that, the Mets' market for Jay Bruce, which as of New Year's Day included as many as a half-dozen suitors, evaporated down to one or two.

It was with all that swirling around him that general manager Sandy Alderson recently admitted the Mets may not…