Veteran center fielder Jackie Bradley Jr. remains “open” to continuing his career, according to a report from Peter Abraham of The Boston Globe. Abraham adds that Bradley has continued to work out throughout the offseason in hopes of returning to the field this spring.
Bradley, 34 in April, signed with the Royals on a minor league pact last spring and managed to earn a spot on the Opening Day roster, though his time in Kansas City ultimately did not go how either side surely hoped it would. While Bradley continued to flash impressive defense in a part-time role with the Royals to open last season, racking up +4 ratings according to both Outs Above Average and Defensive Runs Saved for his work on the outfield grass, he struggled badly at the plate before being released in early June.
In 113 plate appearances for the Royals last year, Bradley slashed a paltry .133/.188/.210 with a 25.7% strikeout rate, a 4.4% walk rate, and just six extra-base hits. That translates to a wRC+ of just 2, meaning Bradley’s offensive performance last year was 98% below that of a league average hitter. There’s reason to believes those dreadful results weren’t entirely earned by Bradley. His BABIP of just .173 last year was more than 100 points below his career .283 mark, and his expected wOBA was more than 60 points below his expected figure.
With that being said, even better fortune at the plate would have been unlikely to turn Bradley into even an average contributor at the plate last year. Even Bradley’s xwOBA of .242 was 12th-lowest among all major league hitters last year with at least 100 plate appearances, and dead last among outfielders who hit that same benchmark. Last year’s disappointing numbers were a continuation of the struggles Bradley has dealt with since departing Boston following the shortened 2020 campaign. Over the past three seasons, Bradley has hit just .176/.238/.275 in 309 games with the Brewers, Blue Jays, and Royals. While his defensive abilities in the outfield have remained impressive during that time, the lack of offense still left Bradley with negative fWAR in each of those years.
At this stage in his career, it would be a major surprise for Bradley to regains the form he showed during his peak seasons with the Red Sox. From 2015 to 2020, the former first-round pick posted a 102 wRC+ while posting elite defensive numbers in center field, allowing him to generate 16.7 fWAR. That figure places him 13th among all outfielders during that stretch, sandwiched between Marcell Ozuna and Starling Marte and ahead of the likes of Andrew McCutchen and Michael Brantley.
Unlikely as it is that Bradley returns to those heights, it would hardly be a surprise if a club in need of outfield depth took a chance on Bradley’s services, though his market would surely be limited to minor league offers. After all, Bradley’s defense remained strong even during his dismal stint with the Royals last year, and the veteran outfielder could serve as a mentor for young players throughout the spring if signed. Abraham even notes that Bradley spent part of his offseason working with young superstar Juan Soto in order to improve the 25-year-old phenom’s glovework in the outfield as he looks to bounce back from a pair of seasons that have seen his defense slip in the eyes of defensive metrics.
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
are
Muted (donkey butt)
You announce you mute people for language or insulting others, which is fine. But, you lose the “high road” by insulting them. Saying “donkey butt” is just a weird, childish censor of the real words you intend to say. That makes you just as bad, if not worse. Because you comment like you are above them.
You sound pompous.
Yeah I’ve had a lot of problems with filihok. Weird guy.
There’s a lot of people on this site with mental problems
There is. I love them.
Yeah, it makes him a bigger douchebag than he already is, damn him, damn him all the way to Hell!
But the Dr said i had dain bramage,
The mind is a terrible thing….
I don’t think MLB is though.
Must be a slow news day…
Uncoachable.
That was never the case and just some BS pushed by muckraking Boston sports media. Dude was a hustler who put together some solid seasons and was a key role player on a championship team. He never deserved all the crap he got
What crap? As a Sox fan I only recall how he and his wife did a lot of Jimmy Fund charity work? The man was a stud in the outfield. Never hit but had some key at bats in the 18 AL championship series (perhaps attributable to some Cora related magic?)?
dbith
I don’t know if JBJ was coachable or not
I do know that hustling and doing charity work isn’t the same as being coachable
People say he’s uncoachable with absolutely no evidence like the commenter above just did
Never heard a bad thing. Never even saw the smoke never mind the fire. JBJ was known as a class act in Boston. His glove should get him into the Sox HOF.
There was no Cora magic in the 2018 postseason. MLB put a monitor (a live person) in each teams video replay room. No signs were illegally stolen in the 2018 postseason and MLB noted this in their report on the 2018 Red Sox. JBJ had a great ALCS and was named MVP.
Solid defensive seasons, never a solid hitter
“It’s over, Johnny”
I’m 71, I’m open to little league, if you’re dumb enough to pay me
Agreed.
You and I understood the translation of what Bradley Jr. said here.
Here are some of the things I’d be open to:
Playing in MLB and getting an MLB paycheck.
Having a polyamorous relationship with Charlize Theron, Zoey Saldana, Rosario Dawson, Aly Michalka, and for some reason, Ainsley Seiger. Oh yeah…and my wife (who looks like older version of Aly Michalka).
I’d be open to having the same deal that Bobby Bonilla has with the Mets, and the same deal he has with Florida restaurants every time he shows them his 1997 ring.
Receiving J.K. Rowlings’ book royalties.
Paying no taxes…ever!
Playing additional sequels in the Star Wars, Marvel, DC, and Fast & Furious fracnhises.
Having just one night…one night…with both Gal Gadot and Brie Larson…both of them wearing their superhero outfits.
Bruce Sherman and the rest of the Marlins ownership gifting me ownership of the team, and paying all of the expenses.
Micky Arison gifting me the Heat ownership, and paying all of the expenses.
Hmmmm…I know I’m missing some things because this isn’t enough.
Solid list, and adaptable to every “veteran” baseball fan’s need.
Did you start drinking early today? I will say props on the Aly Michalka reference in 2024, and a wife that looks like her
If I started drinking early today, I would’ve forgotten my wife on that list…probably the list would’ve sucked too.
I kind of will always be able to reference Aly Michalka because when I first saw that actress, it was like looking at my wife when she and I met back in college. I kinda had to learn that actress’ name after that. Of course my wife isn’t too much of a fan because she has often been told about the resemblance. I don’t see why because, if you’re going to have a celebrity doppleganger, it might as well be one that people categorize as hot.
Well, thank God there’s someone older than me on these comments sections. Not by a whole lot, but I’ll take it.
That explains your dated humor.
He’s a prolific CF, so fun to watch… but other than a few 4-5 game hot streaks a year, his bat is baaaaad.
Hope he hooks on somewhere.
Wal*Mart and Amazon are building their softball teams.
Headline: “MLB player open to getting paid”
MLB: crickets….
Hmmm…This reminds me. Where is Garrett Cooper these days?
Garret Cooper? Being injury-prone somewhere!
I’m sorry I couldn’t resist!
If he will sign for dust the Sox will welcome him back with open arms. I can see it now headlines “Sox welcome back member of triple B’s”.
It’s like having a hot vomit burp.
Lifetime Sox fan and I hope they lose 140 games.
They should raise ticket and concessions prices and wear those heinous yellow uniforms every game.
saw this guy make so many extraordinary plays at Fenway. even when he wasn’t hitting he was Fenway fan Fav. Good luck on whatever you choose JBJ.
I wonder if he would accept playing in San Francisco?
He’d take a MLB job anywhere but only minor league offers will be made. He should take the first offer just to get into Spring Training where others can see if he has anything to offer. Might be hard but what about Worcester helping the youngsters how to play CF? Player-coach. If there’s an injury in Boston, he comes up. If not, he mentors others in AAA
I would be open to continuing my career if someone paid me millions of dollars too. But come on
41 OPS+ since 2021.
He actually got it that high?
What about San Francisco? I hear some players don’t want to play there.
Well, he can still field
But is he open to an extension?
JBJ never seemed to adjust his swing – frustrating player. It’s over.
I would show up to my employment skipping and with a Cheshire Cat grin if they paid me millions to play a game.
As would the rest of us.
Michael A Taylor’s still available so thanks for the thoughts but bye Jackie
That Renfroe-for-Bradley trade the Sox cut with Milwaukee still haunts me at night. We PAID money to make that happen. Lunacy.
JBJ was fun to watch in his prime, but he’s past the point where it’s plausible that he’ll be a productive player.
It didn’t work but if you thought you were selling high on Renfroe and believed in the youngsters coming back, you make that trade again.
JBJ, just sign with Wal*Mart to go play alongside Yasiel Puig and Trevor Bauer.
I’m open to a contract. I hit .088
I’d say 99.9% of the MLBTR readership would struggle to hit .008.
Give it up my friend
Plenty of good defenders.
You can’t hit a fkn lick
there were actually hitters that hit worse
he was “better” than 2% of the league. lol
Boras just really really REALLY wants to be able to say, hey, one of my guys just signed a deal!
See guys, people said no one would sign Jackie but I got him a minor league deal with his pay being free concession food if he helps the clean up crew after the games.
If he wants to play go play in Japan or Korea and work on the swing…. otherwise maybe Coaching at the College or High School level would be a good place for JBJ.
In at just a shade over 9yrs service time…….
Bueller, Bueller…Bueller….
Padres?
Future Hall of Famer Jackie Bradley Jr!
He’s open to keep playing in the Mexican League, the KBO, the NPB? That’s what he meant right?
Almost forgot bout him
I never understood Jackie’s hitting. He could be very good for stretches, then hit like Ron Herbel for six weeks. Me? I loved the guy. I hope he gets another shot. Great fielder.
Man I love the mute button in comment threads like this.
Some good suggestions in here. Giants, Padres, and I’ll throw in the Angels. A fantastic mentor and defensive sub.
He has 9 years service time. Of course he’s open to playing. Not sure why that’s a joke or some outlandish thing for people here. What do people expect him to say? I’m sure there are a lot of people on this site that are/were not the best at their job, but they didn’t stop working.
Really nice guy. I sold him a house
Mexico?
“his expected wOBA was more than 60 points below his expected figure.”
Ummm…???
Then he best be “open” to relocating to Japan or Mexico.
Maybe in Japan
Jbj needs a 115 days to qualify for the full mlb pension.Thats all the incentive he needs to continue his career.
If that’s correct, the Red Sox should see he reaches that mark.
I’m going to start my career in MLB. I probably would have as much interest as this guy.
Has Pirate written all over him
Has double a written all over him
Of course he is. Wouldn’t you be open to getting to 10 years of service time if it substantially improved your well being?
Just to add, I like JBJ a lot. I hope he gets there. His CF defense in Boston was the best I’ve seen in my lifetime. Ellsbury and Damon might have been faster, but they had candy arms.
Mr. Deeds is straight-up incompetent, even more so than that hack Steve Adams. “Unlikely as it is that Bradley returns to those heights” is NOT PROPER ENGLISH. The word “as” to start each sentence is not optional. Fire this kid—he doesn’t understand basic grammar.