Jackie Bradley Jr. of the Boston Red Sox is eliciting trade interest from teams around the league ahead of Monday’s trade deadline. There’s no clear indication whether the Red Sox are offering their centerfielder up in trade discussions, but both the Giants and Indians are curious, per MLB Network’s Jon Heyman.
Bradley has long been considered a standout defensive outfielder. He’s lost a step in the outfield by metrics like Defensive Runs Saved (2 DRS this season, -2.0 UZR), but he nonetheless remains a viable option to man the middle of the grass. Just last season, Bradley Jr. was worth 6 Outs Above Average by the Statcast metric, ranking as the very best in majors in reaction time. On his defensive prowess alone, Bradley Jr. could easily carve out a role on any number of contenders.
The offensive end tells a different tale. He’s long been a confounding presence at the plate, and this season hasn’t been Bradley’s finest with the stick. A triple slash of .253/.317/.363 still holds value when paired with his glove, however. It would be a little surprising for the Red Sox to hold onto him given that Bradley is a free agent at year’s end, and they’re one of the few teams in the majors all but guaranteed to miss the playoffs. Still, the Red Sox might see value in having his veteran voice in the clubhouse. Before prorating for the shortened season, JBJ was owed $11MM for the season, his last before free agency.
The Indians probably have enough bodies to man the corners of the outfield, but they’re thin in the middle after Oscar Mercado’s somewhat shocking sophomore season (-29 wRC+). Delino DeShields (84 wRC+) is their primary option in center with Greg Allen (48 wRC+) backing him up. The need is clear, but frankly, Bradley Jr. (82 WRC+) fits the mold of the players already on the roster. The Giants, meanwhile, would be surprising buyers, but their offense has kept them within striking distance of the wild card. Mike Yastrzemski has done an admirable job in center, but the Giants must prefer to keep him in a corner if possible. Steven Duggar has returned to the roster, but he’s struggled in limited action thus far (-7 wRC+).
Speculatively speaking, the Cubs or Brewers would be another pair of contenders that could potentially seek outfield help. The Brewers have been forced to play Avisail Garcia in center after Lorenzo Cain opted out for the season. The Brewers have been a disappointment this season on the whole, but they’re a perfect fit should Boston decide to deal Bradley. The Cubs are fairly well stocked in the outfield, and Albert Almora Jr. offers a similar option in terms of skillset, but they still have room for another outfielder on the roster and will definitely look for ways to upgrade. Team President Theo Epstein obviously has a history with Boston and should have no trouble getting his former club on the line, should they have interest.
I’ll be so sorry to see JBL leave I hope it’s not true.
It’s true he’s leaving.
He’s been leaving for years. Every season there’s talk of him going. While there’s no denying his gold glove work, he’s practically an automatic out at the plate (aside from a (VERY) few streaks here and there).
I think this year is different. He’s a free agent at the end of the year and the Sox suck. Time to focus on young players like Jarren Duran. If Bloom used this deadline to trade JBJ, JD Martinez, Mitch Moreland, Matt Barnes and anyone else not Bogearts or Devers, he can get a jumpstart in rebuilding the farm system.
Given the current social climate, Zaidi might be viewing this as a sort of affirmative action thing. Frisco has no African American players.
Maybe. The Giants principal owner was outted last year for financing political TV adds for a southern congressman that featured ‘ Lynching ‘ visuals
Jaylin Davis says hello. Not too biased are you? How many black players are on the Yankees roster?
Let’s keep race out please. Truth is as most know, other sports are the main reason why with Latinos having stepped in for years from Latin American countries and the U.S. including territories.
On another note, I’d rather have Brock Holt back for 21 than JBJ (just my attempt at early morning humor),
There are no games being played in Frisco this year. The Minor Leagues are shutdown this year. Why do you always get that wrong?
So you have Judge and Hicks, Stanton is Latino. Wow, two whole Afro-American players, Pat yourself on the back. But if you’re going to count Latinos, SF has plenty, and has an excellent record in that regard.
Seriously, since how many black players on any particular team, is a ridiculous issue to be arguing about. The lack of black players in MLB is an issue for baseball as a whole. And to chastise any particular team for the number of black players only reveals a problem with those that point fingers.
LethimSmoke:
As your posts reveal, you are one of the most ignorant, ill-informed contributors on this site. You’ve already claimed Joey Bart to be a bust based on less than 30 ABs. Only the dumbest of baseball fans would do something as stupid as that. Get a little more experience watching and learning about baseball before purporting yourself to be an expert on a subject where, clearly, you are not.
I think @27rings & @lethimsmoke are the same person. It probably has more aliases.
He’s a free agent at the end if the season. Might as well get something for him now.
Of course it’s true, there’s no chance he’ll be signed by the Sox this winter. They will move Benny to CF for next season. The thing about JBJ that nobody here realizes, he is a sure thing for a hot streak every once in a while. He showed it again when he won ALCS MVP, but the Sox were foolish in not trading him right after.
His cold streaks FAR outweigh his hot ones.
Did you know players who make outs twice as often as they get hits are considered the best hitters in the game. And did you know over the course of a full season, the difference between a .300 hitter and a .253 hitter (which JBJ is this year) is only 26 hits. That’s just one extra hit for every 6.23 games.
Just move Bennie period…
Has there been a more disappointing player in recent memory other than Jackie Bradley Jr? Seriously
I’ll take Jacoby Ellsbury for $200 Alex…
@Chris_Favreau BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
He had great springs early on but can just not put it together with any regularity, he’s Billy Hamilton without the speed. Perhaps a change of scenery could do him some good
Billy hamilton without the speed? so, nothing?
Both JBJ and Hamilton are solid defensively so there is that
Hamilton’s career OPS+ is 25 points less than JBJ’s. They are not comparable offensively.
JBJ’s hot and power streaks were frustrating, not disappointing to understand. At least he had big hits in the 18 playoffs.
He’s not disappointing as a whole. Yes his offense has been too inconsistent to be anything but disappointing but his amazing glove and arm more than make up for it. While he was always considered a good centerfielder, it seems like as he got to understand Fenway, he just continued to get better. If his bat improved but at the expense of his glove, would fans be happier? Congrats JBJ on a fine career in Boston but it’s time to move on. Perhaps a change will be good for both parties.
Greg Bird?
Yeah, just what the lowly SF Giants need. Another Outfielder that cant hit.
Jesus Pasha, you love your binkies. First holt then jbj. Move on.
Pasha has attachment issues……probably wishes Yaz was still playing left field at age 80.
JBJ is one of the best defensive centerfielders I’ve ever seen. He can tract em down out there better then anybody. I’ve seen him take so many homeruns away from the Yankees during the years.
I disagree with that. He isn’t even the best center field glove in the al east
Watch baseball much ?
Lowtaker, you have to consider being able to stay on the field. KK loses a lot of points in my book because of his injuries.
A slapdick prospect is better than nothing
I never understood the Indians’ interest in JBJ, so thank you for elaborating on that.
He’s basically a more frustrating version of DeShields (and more expensive). The Indians’ attempts to solve their outfield have been to throw as many names as possible at the wall and see who sticks. This late in the season, it makes no sense to acquire another outfielder unless he’s a definitively better option than what they already have. JBJ isn’t that.
You’re smoking crack if you think the OFers you have are better than JBJ. None have the range, arm or defensive skills of JBJ.
Number one, I never said any of them are better than JBJ. I just said that he’s not substantially better enough to be worth of the effort of acquiring.
Number two, he’s an elite defender and I’m not denying that. But if you’ve watched more than 2 seconds of an Indians game, you’ll know they need offense. JBJ is below average at the plate.
Exactly, not what they need.
If you can get him for a low minors player, that’s fine. it’s worth a shot. but there is NO player (other than Allen) on Cleveland’s MLB team that I would trade for him. Even Domingo Santana has a chance to hit a HR every once in awhile. JBJ is more expensive than everyone else, and doesn’t solve the problem that Cleveland has the lowest offensive production if any outfield unit in baseball.
Anyone who thinks the Giants are going to trade for a 30-year old OFer on the decline lives, eats, drinks, sleeps, and dreams somewhere in Never-Never Land on the East coast — sorry fellow, you are OUT-OF-TOUCH
Makes sense to me. JBJ > Duggar, but any MLBer > Duggar.
I’d prefer Choo as a LH hitter personally, but JBJ plays centerfield, so … And no rule that say Farhan couldn’t be after both
Depends on what they would be required to give up… also it depends on whether they can win this series w D’Backs. If they follow their 7 game win streak with a losing streak, Zaidi will be selling anything he can get a return on.
Won’t cost much and Giants having gotten hot, are looking to sneak in to the second phase of the exhibition that this really is. If they think his manning center given his bat can help, why not? Never mind what happens if he gets into a batting grove going into October?
Jays?
No thanks
If Vlad could play 3B, sure. Could stomach JBJ batting 9th and playing CF. Tellez to 1B, Grichuk to RF, Teoscar DH. JBJ to the bench when a LHP starts. But we know that isn’t happening.
The ask for him from BOS would be sky high. I don’t see them trading him to us unless we overpay a lot! The $$$ to resign him if he came here wouldn’t make sense for our front office this offseason.
They should focus on another bat. Maybe someone who can play both SS and 3B in case Bo is out longer than we think.
Could Reds be in discussions as well? Shogo isn’t cutting it
Hi All,
Hope you and your families have been well. I’m a first-time commentator on this website.
Do you believe the Cubs will DFA Kimbrel after tonight?
Which signing was the worse – Chatwood, Heyward, or Kimbrel?
Why aren’t the Cubs able to develop pitchers that they drafted?
Hope you all have a great rest of the weekend!
No. He’ll be back to low leverage situations again after tonight.
Kimbrel.
One of these years, they’ll strike gold on a pitching draft pick. If you count international, Alzolay has a shot and so does Brailyn Marquez.
Man has he lost it. Even his time in Boston is overrated. One phenomenal season (17 I believe). Sox fans who watched every game knows he was the reincarnation of Twopack (look it up if you have to – Earl Weaver and Twopack).
Welcome to the website! Okay I’ll say it since nobody else has, comments are supposed to be about the topic discussed in the article above them. That’s why everyone is commenting on JBJ, the Red Sox and the teams where he may be traded.
Im def going to go with Kimbrel – It didnt make sense at the time and I dont know who else was going anywhere near 48 million – This all after knowing how much it would hurt/ constrict them in 20 and 21 –
Heywards had value and helped with a ring, Chatwoods gone after this year but Kimmy’s going to continue to be a nightmare –
It will be a wild 22 off-season for yall though
Heyman’s just throwing spaghetti on the wall, seeing what will stick.
Most likely a BOS staffer feeding him this to increase interest
It is definatley nice to have a center fielder running routes out there in center. Especially in big fields like Oracle, but I doubt the Giants get him because they aren’t a playoff team. I think the Indians are gonna get him, because I’ve just gotten used to the Giants crying wolf.
Yeah, I was surprised to see the Giants listed as being interested. JBJ has real value defensively in CF. Defense at key positions is always underrated by the casual, or uninformed fan. But the only way I see the Giants wanting JBJ is if he’s willing to sign an extension as part of the acquisition. Having his defense in CF a couple years down the road makes some sense, But it makes zero sense as a rental for 2020 only.
The Giants are not getting ready to compete to give him an extension now that doesn’t make sense.
Where did you get your crystal ball? The Giants now have a decent farm, and being one of the wealthier teams in baseball, have the funds to sign any FA in the upcoming seasons. They may, or may not be competitive 2 or 3 years down the road, but to bet against that reveals a dearth of baseball knowledge gained from experience
The Giants are dreadful. Moving forward, They could add Mike Trout and Jack Flaherty and at best they’d be a third place team in the NL west behind LA and San Diego
The Giants are so far away. You could add Mike Trout and Jack Flaherty and at best, they’d sit 3rd chair behind LA and San Diego.
Nowhere close to competing. Joey Bart is clearly another Giants draft BUST. They have no young + Arms or young impact bats at the minor league level.
Only a total baseball neophyte would declare any player a bust after 26 ABs. You do know that after his first 26 ABs, Willy Mays was hitting .038/.219/.154 with an OPS of .373 right?
Not that Bart is anywhere close to Mays, but deciding that anyone is a bust after 26 ABs, after watching Mays, sounds like some that started following baseball like 3 days ago.
27ringsbitches:
Aren’t you the genius that accused me of being a low baseball IQ Giants fan for questioning a post saying the Giants might not win 20 games this season?
With 16 wins and 35 games to go, meaning they would have to go 3 wins – 32 losses to fall short, it seems like the less than 20 wins prediction was the real low baseball IQ take.
No one said the Giants would be good. but year after year of predictions of historically bad seasons being wrong, whether you made the post, or simply supported it, points to the real low baseball IQ among us.
Ummm …. the Brewers declared Brock Holt a bust after just 30 AB’s even though he had just signed a guaranteed $3.25M contract. Just sayin’ …
@Lethimsmoke Bart hasn’t even played 30 games in the big leagues, but hey you’re Wikipedia, you know it all. Top ten rated farm system, but hey SFGiants have no young impact bats or arms in the minors. Crack cocaine is a hell of drugs kids. I’ve read some trash comments in my lifetime, but you sir take the cake. Which Giants fan hurt you?
@ChocoRolles No reputable Scouting organization has the SF Giants Farm System in their top 10. Lol
You need to Back that up with a Link
And Yes, Joey Bart looks terrible thus far. Can he turn it around? We’ll find out. Part of the problem is that throughout the league during this Corona Virus season, A high rate of Young talent being promoted, have done quite well….While Bart hasn’t. Part of the explanation to that is that there is no live advanced scouting. No scouts in the stands. So, If Bart is struggling now, How is he going to perform when the league has advanced scouting / Data on him?
@Tad2b13 You just posted :
“…..With 16 wins and 35 games to go , meaning they’d have to go 3 wins -32 losses “
There are only 25 games left in the 2020 season.
You might want to learn how to read and calculate basic math in accordance to the game schedules. And yes, I am the one that accused you of being a low-information Giants fan. That is correct
@27Rings LOL
@Lethimsmoke your mind is set on being a troll, there are multiple articles on them being in the top 10 while others have them in the top 15. Regardless of what link I provide you will not change your mind. I see you trolls stick together. Must be a Yankee fan just like @27rings. With that reasoning then any prospect that is struggling is a bust like Adell, Kieboom, Mize, Skubal, Carlson, B. Rogers, E. White and N. Pearson are terrible. You my good sir need mental help.
@ChocoRolles Where’s the Link Bruh??
post up or it’s BS . That’s how it works here
27ringsbitches:
Okay I made a mistake. You win, I guess, since based on the actual number of games left, that they would need to go 3 and 22 to not reach 20 wins. Wow I guess you won that argument since that seems really plausible. At least to the truly baseball ignorant.
The mantel of the low baseball IQ really belongs to the one that supported the incorrect prediction of an historically bad season for the Giants (again), and tries to shift any notice of being so wrong, by jumping on a mere mathematical mistake, despite the fact that it changes nothing.
I posted It like 10 hours ago but MLBTR will not let me post them. Look it up Wikipedia
No extension. If he goes there, at most let him set his value in free agency. Until he sees how low it will be, his agent will be aiming way too high.
Can’t imagine JBJ costs more than a PTBNL and Cash
He’s worth a low-to-mid-level named prospect.
Sox might be putting in cash to get anything relevant back.
Giants had the equivalent of JBJ in Kevin Pillar and refused to resign him. So this would be a strange move in my opinion.
VTGiant:
Pillar is not the defensive player that JBJ is. There’s a reason why Pillar is in RF while JBJ plays CF for the BoSox.
Well obviously he played CF (and quite well) for the Giants and equally obvious he was going to supplant JBJ as Red Sox CF. And he was a great clubhouse guy too.
Ever think they realize they made a mistake? Pillar was not resigned by the Giants because they did not want to spend a few million more and still finish in last. This short exhibition year and their recent winning streak changes the equation.
Exactly. Way too many people mistakenly think Pillar is a great fielder because of the circus catches he makes. JBJ doesn’t need to make that many circus catches, because he turns them into routine plays. That’s what truly great fielders do.
unfortunately he has damaged his value beyond repair with his attitude and nonsense. nobody wants a trouble maker.
Attitude and nonsense? He’s one of, if not the most loved guys in that clubhouse.
@mike – I think it was a not so veiled attempt to cast JBJ as some force that required the sox to postpone their game against TOR as part of the protests.
Reality is, JBJ didn’t ask the sox not to play. JBJ said he personally and alone wanted to sit out.
If your problem was with that happening, your problem isn’t with jackie. It’s with the other couple dozen non-african american players and coaches on the team that voted to stand with him of their own free will in a team meeting.
Pillar is a leader in the clubhouse n on the field. He’s been a great acquisition, I like him n home he stays.
He’s one of the most respected guys in that clubhouse. You don’t know what you’re talking about.
You are not even a good troll. He’s respected by everyone.
I love the dude, but unfortunately, he’s got to go.
Go Gamecocks! One of my favorite players and always will be.
C’mon Rockies get this guy. I have been wanting his defense in the spacious Coors outfield for several years now. He shouldn’t cost much. Maybe someone like Tommy Doyle, Alexander Guillen or Bret Boswell. Close major leaguers that are Rule 5 eligible, but unlikely to get 40 man spots this winter.
No disrespect to Bradley Jr,but don’t we have enough weak sticks In that outfield now. Unless he’s picked up dirt cheap I’d stay away. Where is the improvement in the offence. He’s another Deshields with a little more power that’s all. Then again a change of scenery might be a good thing for him. Just don’t pay too much to get him.
Not to mention would you look at the guys the Indians have JBJ would be the old man of the group. He is older than Any other outfielder who has played this year for Cleveland.
A lot more power in CO.
If the RS can deal him and cash for a low-level, high-ceiling guy, they should do it. Can’t see him getting a QO.
I would take another Pivetta type of ‘need a change of scenery’ player.
I am sure his services are available. And he can be the greatest clubhouse presence ever, but the season is over in 4 weeks.
Season totals for Bradley have never meant a thing. He was hitting .211 / .274 / .246 on August 13. In his subsequent 11 games and 42 PA, he’s .297 / .357 / .514. He’s blown ice cold / reddish hot his entire career, and the streaks are usually long.
“He’s long been a confounding presence at the plate”. For me that’s the best assessment of Bradley I’ve ever seen. Consistently inconsistent to be sure.
Jackie’s defense can carry his pedestrian bat. He is gone though. He is either getting traded, if they get something they like or leaving via free agency. The Sox are going to move anyone they view as over paid for their value. Right now Jackie is more valuable to a contender.
All I can think of when it comes to JBJ is the Sox choose to give him 11+m and trading Betts because of cap space (yes I know Betts was making a lot more but it’s Mookie and generational player a game changer )if the needed to cut payroll then don’t pay 11m to guy that can’t hit a ball with a tree
Trading should be a no brainer. He is history in a month. Since they are on the hook for his salary regardless ,trade him and continue to pay his salary, and in return get some prospects. It would be a net gain. Same for his teammates ala trade, pay, get prospects.
Benintendi is coming off the IL this week and JBJ will be moved. I had suggested before they signed Pillar to offer to extend JBJ for 3 years $18 M.
Francona knows what the Indians would be getting. JBJ is not worth $11 M a year; half of that a team would get it’s money’s worth. I hope he goes to the Indians or Baltimore would be smart trading for him–he rakes in Camden Yard and has made some spectacular HR steals there.