The Long Island Ducks of the Atlantic League announced that they have signed outfielder Jackie Bradley Jr. He’s the second former big leaguer they’ve signed this week, joining left-hander Wei-Yin Chen, who signed with the Ducks on Tuesday as he apparently embarks on an age-38 comeback attempt.
Bradley, 34 this month, has played in the past 11 major league seasons, carving out a career as a superb defender in the outfield who could occasionally chip in with the bat and on the basepaths as well.
There were some whispers over the winter that Bradley was considering retirement but it was reported in February that he was open to continuing his career and was working out in the hopes of finding a club for the 2024 season. It seems he didn’t find an opportunity to his liking from an MLB club but will get some game action with the Ducks. The Atlantic League is an official partner league of MLB so perhaps Bradley can use this signing as a platform to getting back to the big leagues.
Bradley is within range of 10 years of major league service time, currently with a tally of nine years and 57 days, putting him 115 days shy of that milestone. It’s a significant marker for players both due to the fact that there are significant benefits in the MLBPA pension plan for those over the ten-year line and due to the symbolism of reaching a feat that fewer than 10 percent of players get to.
He has played in 1,182 major league games to this point, racking up 78 Defensive Runs Saved and 62 Outs Above Average in the process. Both of those figures place him in the top 10 among outfielders from 2013 to the present. Even as he’s moved towards his mid-30s in recent seasons, his glovework has continued to receive positive grades.
The offense has been less consistent. His best stretch at the plate was with the Red Sox in 2015 and 2016. He hit 36 home runs over those two seasons and slashed .262/.345/.489 for a wRC+ of 119. For the next three years, he settled in as a subpar hitter, but just barely. He combined for a line of .234/.318/.409 for the 2017 through 2019 seasons, with a wRC+ of 90 over that stretch.
He then had a well-timed surge in the shortened 2020 season, hitting seven home runs and batting .283/.364/.450 for a 118 wRC+ just as he was going into free agency for the first time. He was able to parlay that into a two-year, $24MM deal with the Brewers but his offense crashed after signing that pact and never really recovered. He has hit .176/.238/.275 since the start of the 2021 season, wRC+ of 40, while bouncing from the Brewers to the Red Sox, Blue Jays and Royals.
Trying to latch on and get that 10th year? Well if he tears it up perhaps he’ll get a look ?
I guess the Ducks needed an ice cold beer man
Albert – Well we know Jackie can throw an ice cold beer from the seats behind home plate to fans in the center field bleachers, that would earn him a few bucks.
can’t blame him. that 10th year pension is a big deal. it pretty much guarantees they’ll never go hungry. surprised he couldn’t land a minor league deal, though. surprised no one wanted him just for depth
I never understand these types of comments. Those guys that reach 10 years are millionaires. Why would they need an MLBPA pension plan? Maybe 40 years ago you still needed one after 10 years of service time, but now? Really?
athletes never mismanage money and go broke, do they? guess what, they can claim SSI too!
I know in the NBA part of it is about your family receiving insurance as well, like your wife and kids. Not sure about MLB but it’s probably similar?
yep. and the pension plan doesn’t kick in for a max payout until 62. last i knew, less than 10% of MLB players accrue 10 years service time.
Why would anyone need more money??
Yes it’s similar to the MLB plan in the respect that your insurance can be passed on.
Some people would call this move Daffy.
2/3rds of the earth is covered by water…the last 3rd can be covered by Jackie Bradley jr
I will always cherish his annual two week stretch where he goes nuclear offensively.
Memory is jaded , wasn’t that the line used for smooth Phillies OF Gary Maddox?
Yes
Thanks. Brain cells still somewhat working lol
IM – They just don’t have create lines anymore these days.
One of my favorites about Cool Papa Bell, “He is so fast he turns the light off and is in bed before the room goes dark”. Of course this was long before they invented the clapper and remote controls. Haha!
Another good one, this time about Josh Gibson:
“Gibson hit a game winning home run so high and deep into the sky that it disappears from sight. The next day, the same two teams played again, but now in Washington. As the teams took the field, a ball came falling out of the sky and a Washington fielder catches it, and the umpire says to Gibson “You’re out. In Pittsburgh, yesterday!”
Yes..it was used for maddox ..but i thought it fit jbjr well
Ducks are stacked this year….first Chen? Now Bradley? In all seriousness it’s a fun time going to Ducks games and it’s even better when you have former MLB players.
Also have no issue with players hanging on bc they love the game.
More talent on these Ducks than Anaheim “mighty” Ducks
The Long Island Ducks could probably beat the Miami Marlins
He’ll still hit below the Mendoza line there
Cue a bunch of losers working at car washes, or whatever, trying to make themselves feel bigger by insulting a world class professional athlete
Exhibit A
Ham Fighter
April 4, 2024
He’ll still hit below the Mendoza line there
*Muted
Exhibit B
Albert Belle’s corked bat50 seconds ago
I guess the Ducks needed an ice cold beer man
*Muted
You don’t have to announce your muting somebody or grandstand about how good of a person you are for defending professional athletes
RE crd
And you don’t have to announce that you’re defending [donkies]. But, here you are.
I just muted you and it felt so good that I unmuted you and then muted you again.
Lol
lmao. i’d love to see what the people who make those negative comment about players not retiring look like. i imagine they’re a stereotypical neck beard in a basement.
His bat has been hot garbage the past couple years, but I would’ve thought he could’ve latched on as a 4th OF possibility for rebuilding teams looking for some veterans.
Maybe he can pick up a MLB contract when a fringe competitive team falls out of contention to pick up that bit of service time
Playing for Long island ducks is 1 step away from diablo de los rojas mexico
I live on Long Island. Went to a couple of games to see Daniel Murphy. I’ll go to see Bradley.
You mean to tell me S.D. , Oakland even Colorado won’t give JBJ a shot?? Dude can down right pick it!
They have young players to look at
Rockies wanted a left handed CF but went with Jake Cave. Probably because Bud Black didn’t want to be the only caveman in the dugout.
JBJ is one of the most overrated players of all-time.
i’ve never seen anyone overrate jbj, but i’d call it a solid life to almost average a 2 war throughout your career. what have you done? you seem overrated.
now for overrated players, people around his career WAR are adam dunn and dave kingman
“You seem overrated” – you feel better, Soggy? “A solid life” – what are you talking about with your hurt feelings?
Hes Not overrated on defense
He went downhill quick once he left Boston.
Personally I think he got ripped off a few times got gold gloves… he really had the wheels and arm to get it a few years and didn’t
Ozzie’s last few too. But that’s too controversial to say.
IM – Nothing was more egregious than Palmeiro winning a Gold Glove by starting just 28 games in the field.
JBJ’s career is ducked up.
well, it won’t be lone before .220 is league average, so it’s not like not being able to hit makes his hitting unusual. I would guess he wasn’t signed because everyone thought he was retiring.
Two weeks he’ll be pitching for the Mets
JBJ a real gentleman and we all remember Pierce with the big hits but Jackie had some monster ones through out the 18 playoffs also… good luck JBJ!!!!
Olm – That’s ALCS MVP JBJ!
FPG…. Wait HE won it??? I thought it was # 70!!!
I’d take him over Johan Rojas.
With the players these days, majority end up on the IL. You think MLBPa would propose injury days while on the IL, should count as time earned. Might as well water the game down more and add trophy’s to all teams in baseball.
PF
“injury days while on the IL, should count as time earned.”
They do. As they should
Gotta admire that!
For a guy who was arguably the best defensive centerfielder I’ve seen in a Red Sox uniform, I’m rooting for JBJ to get an opportunity to reach 10 years of MLB service time. His glove is still worth it.