Despite some recent speculation that the Red Sox could non-tender Jackie Bradley Jr. prior to tonight’s 8pm ET deadline, the organization will tender him a contract for the 2020 season, Alex Speier of the Boston Globe reports (Twitter link).
The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal suggested last night that a non-tender of Bradley could be possible (subscription required), pointing out that the $11MM that MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz projects Bradley to earn in his final season of club control may be steeper than the team prefers. But Bradley’s strong defensive track record, extra-base pop and speed are seemingly enough that the Boston organization feels he’ll at least be valued at that rate elsewhere. The dearth of useful center fielders in free agency certainly makes that likely.
It stands to reason that Bradley is still a candidate to change hands between now and Opening Day 2020. Boston’s payroll is already in the $230MM neighborhood (including arbitration projections and pre-arbitration salaries to round out the roster), and there are notable holes to address on the roster. Moving Bradley would be the second of what could be several moves designed to scale back on the 2020 payroll; the Red Sox also traded catcher Sandy Leon to the Indians earlier this morning, shedding a projected $2.8MM salary in the process.
The 29-year-old Bradley hit .225/.317/.421 with 21 long balls, 28 doubles and three triples in 567 plate appearances with the Sox this past season. However, he hasn’t had an above-average year at the plate (by measure of OPS+ or wRC+) since his All-Star 2016 season, and his typically brilliant defensive ratings slid in 2019 as well. Bradley drew ratings of -1 Defensive Runs Saved and a -1.2 Ultimate Zone Rating, although Statcast’s Outs Above Average still pegged him as a quality defender (+6). The 2018 Gold Glover has long been considered to be one of the game’s better defensive outfielders.
Looking around the league, several teams (Cubs, Mets, D-backs, Braves, Phillies, Reds, White Sox) could be in the market for a short-term addition in center field. The D-backs, in particular, seem like a plausible fit given the presence of former Boston execs Mike Hazen, Amiel Sawdaye and Jared Porter in the front office and given the team’s history of acquiring former Red Sox players (Clay Buchholz, Blake Swihart, Robby Scott, Deven Marrero, Henry Owens). Arizona “would have interest” in acquiring Bradley, Rosenthal wrote last night, which would allow them to play Ketel Marte at second base rather than in center field.
Easy call. Tough decision on accepting less back in return. Only makes sense if the team is committed to getting under the tax. Nonsense being partially pregnant. Expect a move to only follow or be part of a bigger one.
He will be moved for a scrub who can play the OF. Benny will go to CF and Dalbec or Chavis will play LF.
Dalbec won’t start fhe year in the majors and neither he nor Chavis have ever played the outfield. They’d likely acquire a part time centerfielder that hits left handed and have him platoon with Travis in the outfield. (Benintendi would play center vs LHP and Travis left and Benintendi on left vs RHP and the other guy in center) with Martinez sprinkled in.
Chavis will get at bats at second and first and serve as depth at third and get DH at bats. Dalbec will get at bats at first, third and DH
I actually forgot all about Travis and yes he could play some LF and hit about .230. He doesn’t have much OF experience either though and I read somewhere that the Sox were going to use either Chavis or Dalbec in the OF during ST.
Agree on Travis but in the small sample size I’ve seen, Bennie is not a MLB centerfielder. I’d actually prefer to trade Bennie with an overpriced starter (Price) as a means of cutting payroll if that’s the direction they go in. Surplus in Bennie should offset Price with nothing coming back of interest. That or as I’ve said before, take back Hosmer where it will cost more later but less in 2020.
As a White Sox fan, I’d happily use the team’s financial resources on a deal like that.
Benny was drafted as a CF. Having to add him to a deal just to get rid of Price is beyond depressing. This offseason is NOT AT ALL about getting better it is 100% about getting CHEAPER. The decision is basically already made to get rid of JBJ. Benny is much cheaper. If needle add JBJ with Price but even then we will still need TWO SP and one OF and NO money to spend on acquiring them.
Point is Bennie might never be as good as projected, doesn’t thrill me by what I’ve seen in CF and will start to get expensive in 2021. I’m still not convinced the team will cut payroll this year as compared to next but mentioned a way to do it if they wanted to this year. I don’t think JBJ does much and if you want another team to fully pick up Price’s remaining years, you have to sweeten the pot.
The guy has really only had 1 good year… seems like a high cost for that. They can still drop him and pay him a fraction of that money in ST, but idk.. he’s not gonna he that valuable to them honestly. Most players who can hit better can handle Boston’s OF just fine
This. As a Reds fan, Bradley’s a rich man’s Billy Hamilton and a poor man’s Jay Bruce. He’d be lucky to get half of 11 mil if the Red Sox non-tender him.. And no one’s going to give up any serious prospects in trade either.
I see the Hamilton comparison. But am lost on the bruce one. Bradley is all glove, some ability to run and is no threat to hit 30 bombs. Bruce can’t run, is average at best defensively and is a threat for 30 bombs.
Bruce used to be solid defensively and could run well enough for an OF. And JBJ comes a lot closer in power output to Jay than Billy.
Bruce was a threat to hit 30 bombs THREE yrs ago. Willing to bet given a fairly equal # of games that JBJ will hit more bombs than Bruce. And an ABSOLUTE no to Cespedes.
Talk about WAY overpaid…only way I would have done this is to trade him.
Is he really that overpaid in 2020, though? Throw out his 5+ WAR 2016 and you can see that he’s basically a 2-2.5 WAR guy over a 145 game season. That isn’t something you build around, but is it not worth $11M/1 year at CF?
What’s the alternative plan that saves any real money? Someone like Kevin Pillar?
I don’t know, but Jonathan Villar, a 28yr old. 4 fWAR MI was just put on waivers by the Orioles facing a $10m arb number.
But why would the Sox take Villar. Only saves us 1 million and I think JBJ is a better fit with the Sox than Villar.
Do you think the Orioles are a better run organization than the Red Sox?
That’s exactly what’s going to happen. You hit the nail on the head without knowing it. Jackie Bradley jr. Is absolutely gone.
Bradley for Cesar Hernandez ….
mmmm; I’ve seen worse proposals that that one……Heck, I’ve MADE worse proposals than that one…..
JBJ still has SOME value, just not 11M worth…..they’ll likely move him, but probably will have to eat some, and get Rob Refsnyder back…..
you said Rob refsnyder for a gold glove centerfielder
Rotfl
I watched at least 140 of the Red Sox games last year and that -1.2 UZ rating is flawed to say the least. Bradley is still a premium defender in CF. He gets to balls that 90% of CF cannot and still has a cannon for an arm. If anyone trades for JBJ, they are getting a huge asset (defensively) and someone who can win them 4 or 5 games at the plate during one of his hot streaks. While I hate to see him go, if the Sox truly need to reset their luxury tax situation, it makes sense to trade JBJ but they should demand a decent prospect back in return. This is a situation where the metrics don’t really equate to the value of the player.
@Dorothy_Mantooth
If he’s released the Yanks should jump on him. Even thoguh Gardner can play a good CF I would jump on Bradley and play Gardner on LF.
Agree Dorothy for the most part, especially the metrics not equaling his 2019 fielding. That said, all three starters declined per the eye test. Funny how Mookie still got a gold glove. Nothing to worry about in my view. JBJ is clearly a top five outfielder if not a top three. That said, his bat is such that he will only be moved in a salary dump or for an equally bad contract.
I think Jackie Bradley for Caesar Hernandez makes a lot of sense actually. They are both going to make approximately 11mil and the Phillies need a CF while Boston needs a 2B.
If the Red Sox trade their centerfielder they will also need a centerfielder. There is no situation where JD Martinez plays the field.
I actually don’t mind JDM playing 60 – 75 games in the field if for example it means getting a batting wise healthy Pedie in at DH. A huge if that realistically only has a 2% chance if that but look at Ledie’s lead off numbers in a small sample size. Makes Mookie proud. Sadly, those days are likely long gone.
Sorry Phil but the Sox are all about CUTTING payroll not keep it as is. I am sure you can get Bradley for a M/L scrub with “some” potential. Make it 2 and we will probably toss in Price AND pay some of his $$$
They can probably get Dom Smith for him.. maybe pay down the contract a couple mill. Bradley is a draft pick compensation guy with a good year.
I doubt that. Guy is probably too expensive for the Sox if he makes more than 5 million/yr
Would take Dom Smith from the Mets if the decision to cut payroll is real.
This makes no sense for the Red Sox. Unless you have a trade that’s near completion, JBJ is not worth $11 million for the 2020 season. For a team that’s trying to get under the luxury tax threshold, this will not help their cause. Very curious beginning to Chaim Bloom’s tenure.
I doubt Chaim does this without knowing that he can flip Bradley to another team. I’m guessing they have the parameters of a deal already worked out with some team.
Yeah I am sure we can find some team who will give us a scrub for AAA depth in exchange for JBJ.
Now that he is tendered we can deal him for another wild reliever.
Given the dearth of CF options out there, any chance that Chaim trades or releases Rusney Castillo so another team can make him their RH fourth or fifth OF?
Can’t Castillo still play passable enough CF defense and have decent enough speed to get a look as the RH half of another team’s CF platoon?
Great point. He makes too much to be on the Red Sox though so he’s probably stuck in AAA.
Yeah, the CBA as currently constructed allows the Red Sox to keep Castillo in AAA as a non-roster player without any of that money factoring into their luxury tax number.
I understand that any cash that BOS might send with Castillo to another team would suddenly count toward Boston’s luxury tax calculation.
You are right about that.
Jackie and Mookie to the Mets
For
Cespedes, Giminez, Dom Smith
and a lottery ticket or two
Gag me!
So an mvp, and a quality centerfielder for a hurt guy with a bad contract, a prospect and a guy that plays a position the Sox are stacked at? … You are delusional if you think this is real.
Seeing you just moved Sandy Leone…. how about JBJ to White Sox for James McCann. That would give you a catcher and trim 5 mill off your payroll. 11 mil JBJ- 6 mill Mccann
That’s an interesting suggestion, although 6MM for a backup catcher is more than the Sox will go for at this point. I hope they’re working out something with LAD that will bring Keibert Ruiz to work into the majors as Vasquez’s backup. Meanwhile, tendering JBJ a contract doesn’t mean the Sox are stuck with the arb projection of $11MM. They can try to sign him to something with a lower AAV (like 3 years for $20MM, which would give Jarren Duran and Gilberto Jimenez time to get ready for big league CF) or they can release him around ST before a contract becomes guaranteed. The future is not set yet.
I don’t see the white Sox doing it given luis Roberts is one of the top prospects in the game and is neat major League ready to play center
Yeah but we need defense and a RF so put JBJ in right. Problem solved.
He looks relieved in that picture.
Boston’s plan is tender Bradley for the 11 million and then they will turn around and trade him in an attempt to begin the process of replenishing the farm system.
Alright White Sox. Make your move.
I am completely disappointed the Red Sox tendered JBJ because he’s not worth $11M and it also violates their goal of getting below a $208M payroll.
I just saw Villar was picked up by Miami and Baltimore was given compensation.
The Red Sox would have received compensation for JBJ if they non tendered him.
Don’t worry they ARE going to trade him probably for a bag of balls.
I hear what you’re saying but why not just non tender him now?
You’re on the hook for $11M vs. $0 and you’ll get a bucket of balls one way or the other so why waste your time trading him?
Are we that afraid he goes to the NYY?
Very puzzling? They got rid of Leon Osich and Hernandez. That’s over $5.2M. JBJ would have added at least another $11.5M. That would have brought them down to a $205M payroll. Unless they are trading JDM or Betts this offseason and they need the extra outfielder?
You are way off. First they only have 34 players on their current roster. Getting the roster to 40 will add to their payroll. As for JBJ either he or Mookie { likely JBJ} will be traded. Needed to keep JBJ until a final decision on Mookie is made. Need to keep one of them. Expect a JBJ trade at a later date.
26-man OD payroll 40-man CB Tax payroll Tax Space
2020 $221,246,429 (____) $221,016,667 (___) ($10,016,667)
docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vRHU26eqSx…
Not sure what you’re talking about?
Per Cot’s (the bible) they are $10M away from $208M
If I understand you correctly getting rid of JBJ won’t be enough.
When they add the other 6 players to get to 40 they will go over $208M.
So I think what you’re saying is they have to cut or trade someone like Betts or JDM to make room for the other 6 (to round out the 40 man roster) and perhaps that’s why they kept JBJ as they are getting rid of JDM or Betts instead.