Jackie Bradley Jr.’s market continues to percolate, as MLB.com’s Jon Paul Morosi tweets that the Cubs and Phillies are the latest teams to be linked to the free agent outfielder.
Bradley is a known quantity to Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski from their time together with the Red Sox, and Bradley would address a big need for the Phils in center field. The tandem of Roman Quinn and Adam Haseley are penciled into the center field job at the moment, but installing an everyday veteran like Bradley would both solidify the position and provide a big defensive upgrade. Bradley’s left-handed bat would also be useful in a Philadelphia lineup that leans to the right.
Ian Happ provided both strong offense and some decently respectable (+1 Outs Above Average, -2 Defensive Runs Saved, -1.6 UZR/150) glovework as the Cubs’ regular center fielder in 2020, but Bradley obviously offers a lot more defensive value up the middle. Now that Kyle Schwarber has been non-tendered, Happ could easily be shifted over to left field to accommodate Bradley in center. Given the number of former Red Sox personnel within the Cubs organization, Bradley would also find a lot of familiar faces in Wrigleyville — to name two, manager David Ross and assistant general manager Craig Breslow were both former teammates in Boston.
Beyond Philadelphia and Chicago, four other clubs (the Blue Jays, Red Sox, Astros, and an unknown AL Central team) have also reportedly shown interest in Bradley’s services at various points in the offseason. Toronto has also been heavily linked to George Springer, while the Astros haven’t yet ruled out a reunion with Springer, and the Red Sox and Phillies could also potentially be in the mix, though it isn’t yet clear how much money either of those teams are willing to spend this offseason. Bradley could be seen as a “plan B” type of center field options for many Springer suitors, and he could be more of a primary target for a team like the Cubs that isn’t thought to have much payroll space available. While not exactly an inexpensive sign, Bradley’s projected price tag could be as much as $100MM less than Springer’s next contract.
Get ready MLB. Jed Hoyer is ready to make “The Big Moves”.
Thought the days of Dumpster Diving were over when Theo left…
Highly doubt it. Theo and Jed don’t dictate how much they can spend, Ricketts does.
Amen hope he don’t let 2020 change the best owner in Baseball : Mr Tom Rickett & family
That majestic TV station should unite with university of Illinois in Basketball men and Women & Football then more recruits cause of the station the Big Ten never give them a even shot.
So you’re saying JBJ is “dumpster level” ML CF???
He’s a potentially great player and would look great manning CF in Wrigley, but is he the kind of high OBP guy they need badly in that lineup?
I guess we have different opinions on the term “great player”. To me, Bradley will never be a great player. Not to mention, he’ll be 31 next year. I kind of think we’ve all seen the best that Bradley has to offer.
Great player?? Guys bat is everything the cubs have issues with now and worse. As far as his defense goes he is an excellent defensive outfielder. This a 4th outfielder type not an everyday starter.
I don’t know. This seems like it would be a quality move for the Cubs.
JBJ is hardly a dumpster dive.
Take note!!!! You don’t ever see the Cardinals name mentioned concerning interest in any Impact Players!!
What is frustrating—- there will not be any interest expressed by the Cardinals for any young impact players who could change the Course of the Cardinals from being around a .500 team to a potential World Series contending team.
Ownership is having the wool piled over their eyes by their president of baseball operations. The owners have been following his poor leadership and evaluations of players for far to long and eating millions of dollars on poor contract evaluations to declining players.
Any time you add a regular to your lineup, it is a big move. Jackie Bradley certainly qualifies as a regular for whoever signs him.
Phillies could use some depth, especially in CF. I can dig it.
CAN YOU DIG IT?
YES WE CAN!
I knew that you could!
Scoop, Muck, and Roley, Diger too…
Macho Man Randy Savage or Bob the Builder. There seems to be a disconnect.
I actually do think JBJ will be an “inexpensive sign.”
Jiminiy Crickets
Smh
What are the Orioles doing?
Losing…..again
rebulidng?
Jackie Bradley is an average at best major leaguer. Yes, he is a great defender but so are Kiermaeir, Pillar, Hamilton. And what do they have in common? They can’t hit either. Bradley is a lifetime .239 hitter with a .732 ops. And except for a hot month here and there, he has been pretty much an below average hitter his whole career. With all that being said, he’d be a huge upgrade for Cubs who have 2 outfielders on their whole 40 man. But he’ll want more than minimum wage with eliminates the biblically poor Cubs…what a joke Ricketts and co. are. They actually expect us to believe they are poor when the franchise worth is in the billions. If it’s that bad then sell the team….more filthy rich smart people would be lining up to buy them. What does that tell you?
First, they never said they’re poor. Second, franchise value doesn’t = liquid asset to spend on payroll. I can believe that they have budget issues.. The Ricketts ran a top 5 payroll for the last few years. They have a lot of money invested in the remodel of not only the stadium, but the area around it and they made very little money from the stadium and area around it this year.
I can’t imagine when they were planning out budgets that they factored in something like Covid happening, it’s pretty unexpected. So for a team that gets a lot of revenue from foot traffic to just lose almost all of that, surely has to sting.
If this is still an issue in 2022, I’ll be way less understanding.
Thanks for explaining that, I would not doubt that the Ricketts probaly took the biggest beating financially last season of all owners. Foot traffic in and out of the stadium is more than 60% of their revenue that they did not get and at the same time they started their own Cable Network which lost a tons of money last year since it is a start up network and lost 102 games to show last season as well. One last thing, they still have to pay the 2nd year over the luxury tax bill as well which is an additional money lost.
I just got to give them the benefit of the doubt here, because they have proven they will spend the money on payroll and willing to pay the luxury tax for a couple seasons as well.
With the amount of money the Cubs make they darn well should be Top 5 payroll every year.
Who have they signed in the last 3 or 4 years? Kimbrel. Descalso is the only non pitcher contract they’ve signed since Zobrist. Is that acting like a big market team? Sure everyone lost money in 2020 but that’s one year. What about about all the profitable years before.
Should the Cubs turn into Oakland because of the pandemic. And they stopped spending money before 2020. All the renovations around Wrigley….Cubs fans don’t want to hear that’s ownership’s way of investing in the team. Fans want baseball players and don’t give a damn about hotels.
Then Marquee was supposed to be the cash cow. Similar to how networks are for Yankees, Dodgers and Phillies. For a number of reasons that hasn’t materialized yet. And the on field product suffers.
Bottom line is, don’t cry hard times (i.e., biblical losses) when prospective owners are lining up to buy teams. Smart people don’t buy teams if they aren’t making money. Nobody owns a team as a hobby anymore.
‘Descalso is the only non pitcher contract they’ve signed since Zobrist’
Didn’t they sign Heyward’s massive deal the same offseason they signed Zobrist?
Ok Zobrist AND Heyward…..the point is they’ve signed nobody but Descalso since the time of those 2 signings.
Fans will absolutely start caring about hotels when they enable higher budgets down the road. You have to start investing somewhere, it doesn’t make sense to get on the owners case for trying to give themselves a competitive edge.
That being said, boo Cubs. Lol
They’ve spent a boatload of money over the years and empowered Epstein to build/buy them a team and he did. And they won the damn World Series. You can argue about whether they can “afford” to stay over the luxury tax again but a third year gets you stiffer penalties. I’m never gonna try and weave some SOB story for any of these owners, but I don’t think you can legitimately call them cheap.
I am legitimately calling them cheap. Yes, they spent in the past–and then they started dumping salary. They can afford Schwarber, come on (his worst year was a 60-game season that should not define anyone’s legacy). This franchise has always spent, and now they have turned their back on the fans. But fans are like voters, short memories…
then they started dumping salary.
————————————————–
When did they start dumping salary? Are you basing this purely on the fact that they non-tendered a b1.7/650 player, coming off of a bad season?
Don’t use Schwarber as your example. They have to shake up that lineup and add a couple of high OBP guys. Schwarber is anything but that. And if they upgrade CF, they can slide Happ to RF. Not “cheap”. Necessary.
Darvish
Good points. It’s a business after all. If I ran a team, I’d be sure to be under the luxury tax, not sign multiyear contracts, focus on scouting and development, and stock AAA team with depth pieces. We don’t know if and when fans will be allowed back in the parks. I can’t fault the owners for being reticent about payroll for 2021, but I’m with you on no benefit of the doubt the following year if things return to normal.
Early projections for JBJ were 2 years $16M…that’s well above minimum level
Agreed, Pei. JBJ cannot hit, it’s puzzling people work so hard to overlook that crucial detail.
Take note!!!! You don’t ever see journalists mentioned concerning interest in any Cubans outfielders ,CÉSPEDES ,Castillo ,Puig or Yasmany tomas ,the Cubans are better average lifetime hitters than BRADLEY JR ,Hunter rufroe and Pederson but ……..who knows??
What’s a 2 WAR worth? Lifetime .240 hitter averaging 140K’s per year, so obviously bottom of the order guy. He made $11MM last year, but there is no way that he is worth that annually.
I’d say he’s probably worth about double Renfroe. so something like 2 years 8m/yr with a 2m buyout or team option for another 8? I think MLBTR had him at 2/16.
Trade Idea: Astros get Lourdes Gurriel and Danny Jansen and Jays get Brooks Raley, Brandon Bielek, and Forrest Whitley
No. The Jays are looking to add MLB established stars to supplement the young core. The competitive window is open.
Yep, the Jays say no to that immediately.
Wow, I just finished my plan for a (Good) 2020 offseason for the Phillies where I gave myself 60 million AAV that I could spend which would consist of
JBJ and Pederson each 1 year 10 million dollar deals JBJ platoons with Hasely in CF and Pederson platoons in left with Mccutchen.
Which Gives me 40 million to add another starter and to help the poor bullpen and a shortstop
Alex Colome 2 years 24 million and Jose Alverz 2 years 12 Million. still giving me 22 million to add another starter and a shortstop
So we will give Julio Thearan a 1 year 5 million deal down to 17 million
So Hello Siemien would you like a Didi Gegrious 2.0 deal? 1 year 15 million here you go.
2 million left maybe break the budget a bit and get O’Day for 1 year 5 million. and then bam here comes the postseason Phillies.
I trust Knapp as catcher not going to lie so that’s why a new catcher is not in my plans.
Nvm I’m dumb Idk why but I always thought JBJ was a righty so that CF platoon isn’t going to work sooooooo instead of Peaderson lets go with Pillar and we can save a little money
Three outfielders at a combined $40MM AAV all platooning on a team that is reported to be in an austerity program…..hmmmm. Not likely.
Mccutchen contract expires after the season so it wouldn’t be a long-term fix also if they don’t want to spend much u can have Moaniack platoon in left with Mcctuchen and sign pillar to platoon in center.
JBJ- Kingery- Knapp in the back end of a lineup sounds awful. Replacing Realmuto’s bat with JBJ is a serious downgrade even with the runs saved.
I like JBJ about as much as anyone, but I think he would be a mistake for Philly. Haseley (top-100)/Quinn has the potential to be a not-completely-ugly platoon at the bottom of the lineup. With maybe a look at Moniak, depending on ST.
There is no reason, even on a reasonable contract, to consider JBJ while they need a #5 SP, at least 2 BP arms, and a catcher. And they might get JTR at a more reasonable price given that NY/NY have their catchers.
Sometimes, maybe most times, the best thing you can do is to ignore the least worst of your black holes.
He should be about 3/25M unless someone gets desperate.
Grossman would be a better fit for the Cubs. Line drive, strong OBP hitter, exactly what they need.
And he comes cheap which is the primary appeal for CHC.
Jackie Bradley Jr. would be a great CF fit on the Cubs. It would give Chicago a premium defensive outfield with perennial Gold Glove Jason Heyward in RF along with the move of Ian Happ to LF. One has to wonder if a trade is a prerequisite for Jed Hoyer before he can sign JBJ. I’d also guess that the “unknown AL Central team” might have been the White Sox before they signed free agent Adam Eaton to play RF earlier this month.
Teams win championships with guys who “can’t hit.” Whether it’s a catcher, middle infielder, center fielder, or even a first baseman, championship teams often have a player or two who provide value and yet have an anemic OPS. JBJ has been a champion.
Additionally, JBJ is no Mario Mendoza when it come to offensive production. His oWAR in 2016 and 2020 were All-Star worthy enough to match his perennial stellar defense in CF.
Ya, but the Blue Jays are “in on” Blake Swihart!
No thank you. The Cubs have enough offensive troubles without adding another impotent bat to the lineup. Defense is great- Cubs were already MLB’s top defensive team last year – but what good did that do for them when they couldn’t hit a lick in the playoffs?
I didn’t realize Bradley was coming off such a good shortened season. Although he’s nowhere close in talent, he’d be a good fallback option if you miss out on Springer. Especially if he has a good platoon option to play with. I would not mind at all a JBJ-Jonathan Davis platoon to handle center for the Blue Jays. The defense alone would make up for whatever offense is lacking.
Wonder if the Cubs would be interested in Manuel Margot from the Rays. Thought Kiermaier would be a target but he’s the same as JBR (age, great defense, a lefty who struggles to get on base, KO’s and hadn’t hit lefties until this year). Owed a guarantee 26 for the next two seasons, so more than they can sign Bradley.
But Margot is a RH’ed bat, who is good defensively in all three OF spots (mostly having played CF), doesn’t KO as much, can steal a base the OBP trending up and has some power. Only to earn about 3 million in arb. next year with another year of control in ’22.. Rays need a catcher and if the Cubs are committed to Contreras, Victor Caratini would be a good target.
KK would be interesting if the Cubs could get a decent prospect back since the Rays should be looking to cut salary.
I’ve always liked Margot also, thought the Cubs should have attempted to trade Almora and a lesser prospect for Margot as both were struggling former top prospects who could use change of sceneries.
So other than last year, his batting average looks like Odubel. I like JBJ, but we’re paying Odubel and he counts on the cap whether in AAA ,the majors ,or elsewhere .
I wonder why nobody ever goes after Jackie Rogers Jr. Much more versatile performer.
I read that last part way too fast and I thought it said JBJ’s price tag was 100 million lmao.
Hasely pitched in college. Move him to the pen and sign JBJ!
The Cubs already have an overpriced all glove no bat OF in Jason Heyward. The last thing they need is another one. In fact, they just dropped Almora who was the same thing but way cheaper and at least RH
JBJ is a significantly better hitter than Almora. Almora was absolutely putrid. With that said I am not sure how many more wins JBJ will get you over schwarber for probably the same price. I still think there could be some offensive upside with schwarber especially if they add dh permanently
Almora has a much higher lifetime BA and slightly lower OBP. Plus he’s younger which means more years left in the legs and more growth at the plate.
I can’t remember the exact amount of qualifying ab but Almora was statistically the worst hitter or the 2nd worst hitter in all of baseball in 2019. He had an OPS + in the 60s. His 2020 was even worse. Almora was a decent defender but wasn’t even close to league average in hitting the last 3 years. JBJ is a better defender and MUCH better hitter.
I think getting Bradley would be a good pick-up for the Phils with his great defense, and decent bat.I remember Garry Maddox used to save a ton of runs for the Phil’s back in the day, this guy can do it as well.
JBJ’s 2020 season production with the bat is all smoke & mirrors. His barrel%, hardhit% and ExVelo were all down from his previous three season or more. Combine that with a .343 BABIP and what you have is a player who is really going to disappoint fans if they are looking at what he did with the bat this previous season.
Only a casual Cubs fan, but even I am ticked about the direction of this organization. The Cubs have always spent plenty–they win a title and go cheap? Like seriously, you could not afford Kyle Schwarber…but are willing to spend probably a similar amount on an all-glove CF? Newsflash: defense was not the problem last year, offense was. What a joke. I agree with avoiding the contracts of largesse, but jeez.
Y’all need to get a grip on yourselves. They didn’t go cheap simply because they dropped Schwarber. JBJ will replace Schwarber’s salary, and he is a much better player than Schwarber, and a much better fit.
Bradley would also find a lot of familiar faces in Wrigleyville — to name two, manager David Ross and assistant general manager Craig Breslow were both former teammates in Boston.
——————————————————————————————-
Does anyone think this matters? He’ll see Breslow once a twice a season. And just because he played with Ross 6-7 years ago, I don’t think that would impact my decision.
I think someone’s going to wind up overpaying for JBJ going off of the notion that he can actually hit like he did last season (.280+) AND while he has certainly shown he’s capable of doing that… he’s got to be one of the streakiest hitters in all of baseball and when push comes to shove he’s more of a .235 hitter than a .280 hitter. He’s spectacular in the field and can turn it on once and a while and go on a massive tear offensively. But over the course of a full season… there are just some times that it’s painful to watch him at the plate.
There were weeks when it was painful to watch Bradley at the plate., not just some times.
If the Cubs wanted a defensive CF they would have kept Almora and his $2mil salary. His career .271 average is considerably better than Bradley’s .239.
Schwarbs’ $8mil a year would end up being less than what Jackie Bradley is going to get and despite Schwarbers’ very poor 2020 season, he at least has a ceiling of potentially hitting 40-50 500 ft HR’s. Bradley would be a very questionable signing and not a step towards winning nor shaving cap space.
Almora + Maybin + Brennan Davis would have made sense for a salary conscious 2021.
Cubs Front Office: “We really need to give the offense a shot in the arm”
Hoyer: how about we waive Schwarber and his 814 career OPS and bring in Bradley with his 732 career OPS?
Cubs Front Office: “perfect”
I think I’d rather sign Profar for LF in 2021. Or sign La Stella and have Bryant play LF. Happ is okay in CF.
Wow. Judging from the list of free agents they’ve signed over the past 4-5 years, one thing is certain: the Cubs LOVE mediocre baseball players.
The Cubs seemingly cannot fill CF since Fowler left. JBJ would be a good pickup and could reasonably produce at the offensive level that Fowler did but at what he msy cost the Cubs may be better off just going with Happ in CF. The Phillies could probably use JBJ even more than the Cubs so it will be interesting to see who if either of them get him
ww have bigger needs then in the outfield, unless DD can unload Cutch
Wouldn’t mind Jbj in Philly,but if the price tag is reaching 100m.. Something similar to what Cutch would be more like it.
I can’t imagine JBJ getting anywhere close to $100 million. Generously around $50m over a multi year deal but definitely not double that
I’ve watch JBJ his entire career. He tries to pull everything thrown his way and has no idea what the strike zone consists as written. If he had learned to hit to left in Fenway Park and use the Wall, and show restraint with balls out of the strike zone, he would have been an All Star every year. But, if frogs could fly……..
You make a solid point although I’d imagine that Pesky’s Pole down the right field line would also be very enticing to a left-handed hitter, no?
There’s zero chance that Jackie Bradley Jr. is the second coming of Ted Williams. Fact is, there probably isn’t a left-handed hitter in the history of MLB who would qualify as the second coming short of the Splendid Splinter being resurrected.
He should’ve been a HOF player. He has a great swing, one of the best I’ve ever seen, the athleticism, and of course, the defense. But, of course, the frogs….
The worst part is, I’ve seen in streaks where he actually went the other way, and that’s his ‘manic phase’. Even the outside pitches he goes after can be turned into hits.
But then he reverts being pull-happy, and those outside pitches become pop-ups and GBs to the SS, and those low inside pitches from righties look more enticing.
I still like him, but he should’ve been so much better.
How about this Cub lineup Rizzo and Contreras
1-How about a 2nd base that hit 327 last yr and 411this yr
2-How about outfielder hit 48 HR 117 RBI
3-Another outfielder hit 31 HR last yr and 9 this yr if 162 games around 56
4-How about infielder 278 with 38HR
5-Outfielder hit 9 HR this yr 321BA with Cubs last yr
6-part time infielder hit 16 HRs 292 BA last yr
1-LetMahieu
2-Soler
3-Jimmenez
4-Torres
5-Castellanos
6-LaStella
With all the issues DD has walking thru the door, I think center is the least of his issues..Save the money and stick with the 3 CFs the team already has..Hasely, Roman, and yes, I still say since he is getting big bucks, Goofy can come back..It’s now year 3 since his stupidity…we give druggies 2,3,4 chances, why not him? Use that money and solidify the pitching core..Re-sign if at all ;possible JTR..Still need a middle infielder..a must..Scotty has not done anything so far…
100% on CF, imo. Too many fans, and probably even more writers, get distracted by positions where the upgrades are significant. As a RS fan, I love JBJ-good person as well as good player.
But I’m not sure he even adds a full win above Hasely & Quinn. CF might be #4 on your to-do list. RP, catcher, #5 SP.