The Mets have reportedly agreed to a minor league deal with veteran outfielder Jackie Bradley Jr. Sean W. Alcide was the first to report the news, which was later confirmed by Anthony DiComo of MLB.com. Bradley, who had been playing for the Long Island Ducks of the independent Atlantic League, will report to Triple-A Syracuse.
Bradley has not played in affiliated ball since he was released by the Royals last June. He went 14-for-105 (.133) with a .397 OPS over 43 games that season. His always-excellent outfield defense (1.000 fielding percentage, 4 OAA) was not enough to make up for his lifeless bat, even on a Royals club that ranked among the worst offensive teams in the league. However, Bradley has shown signs of life for the Ducks, with whom he went 66-for-165 (.400) with 12 home runs and 28 extra-base hits in 40 games. As Will Sammon of The Athletic pointed out, he was in the middle of a 28-game hitting streak, the longest in Ducks history. Needless to say, Bradley wasn’t facing MLB-caliber pitching in the Atlantic League, but his strong performance was enough to entice New York.
The Mets already have a full-time center fielder, Harrison Bader, and a star corner outfielder capable of handling center, Brandon Nimmo. However, their outfield options are far less promising after those two names. Starling Marte has been on the injured list since June. While he was hitting relatively well over his first 66 games this year, his defense (-9 OAA, -9 DRS) has become a major liability. The four others who have played the outfield for the Mets this year, Tyrone Taylor, DJ Stewart, Jeff McNeil, and Ben Gamel, have combined for a .211/.291/.347 slash line. Only Stewart has a league-average batting line (100 wRC+), while only Taylor (1 OAA, 5 DRS) has positive defensive metrics. Considering that the only other outfielder on the team’s 40-man roster is 21-year-old Alex Ramírez at Double-A, it’s hardly surprising the Mets sought some additional outfield depth.
The Mets will be the fifth organization of Bradley’s career, after stints with the Red Sox, Brewers, Blue Jays, and Royals. He has a career .684 OPS and 82 wRC+ and has not been an above-average hitter since 2020; it is hard to imagine that will change in his age-34 campaign. However, if he is selected to the Mets roster at some point this season, the team can likely count on his elite glove and strong arm to provide defensive value in the outfield. As Bob Nightengale of USA Today points out, Bradley is 115 days away from reaching 10 years of MLB service. Not only is 10 years of service time a major milestone, but it is the point at which players fully qualify for the pension plan. He won’t reach that mark this season, but with a strong performance this year, Bradley could extend his MLB career into 2025.
Is Atlantic league comparable to AA? What’s the general opinion
Probably AA+. The league plays to win games and isn’t developmental.
I saw some statistical analysis that had it pegged at somewhere between AA and AAA overall. Obviously some clubs and players were lower, but in general it’s that range. There are guys in the league on occasion who are capable of occupying a spot on the fringes of an ML roster; seems like usually random relievers who learned how to generate crazy spin on a slider or something.
Some are ok and some organizations (Boston for example) usually end up signing 2-3 from various Indy teams annually and almost always pitchers.
Cam Booser, doing pretty well for Boston as a LHR was signed last season out of Indy ball. Couple others this season, mostly filler guys. probably only 1 with a decent chance kid named Zach Penrod, but it’s like sometimes finding a diamond. never know.
No different than scouring vet loaded mexican, or korean leagues for talent and the cash teams pay for purchasing players keeps them afloat.
Daniel Nava still has the greatest story. Cam might end up having a better career, but first pitch grand slam? Dude will forever be a legend
I’ve seen both High-A and Double-A thrown out there, so I guess you could say somewhere in between.
I’m not trying to sound like an expert, but from what I’ve seen of Independent League players who aren’t former MLB players when they get signed into affiliated ball, they can execute well enough to look too good for High-A ball fairly quickly, but it takes some time for them to adjust to Double-A, and there are plenty who just don’t have the stuff to be competitive at Double-A.
As there are several former major leaguers in the lower levels – What the scouts are seeing is the they are healthy and they have gotten their kinks out.
So if they have already done it at the major league level they could do it again – they just needed some more time
Luke Voit has been mutilating the ball down in mexico – again, aside from the numbers overall he’s shown that he’s healthy.
How can you be so sure that it was some chump named Sean who first reported this and not me, raisinssssss?!
A chump named Sean sounds more credible than a chump named after a breakfast cereal add-on!
That .400 BA is definitely not sustainable but good for JBJ getting another chance
I’m more interested to see if he resigns with the Duck’s after his next MLB stint. If the hitting streak is still in tact, why not sign a contract?
If anything, he might RE-SIGN unless he’s RESIGNING from some job or position.
And the hitting streak might be INTACT because it’s one word.
Oh my, how embarrassing. Thank you for taking the time out of your day to educate a stranger on the internet, I know you have a lot going on!
So much ignorance, so little time smh.
Nice to see co-operation on the message boards.
Mets getting their defense in place for their push to win the NL East.
Jackie’s back let’s go come back to Boston
I know it’s nowhere close to the majors, but Jackie was tearing it up with the Ducks.
Saw him rake 2 dingers with the Ducks a few weeks ago. He gave my son a ball and then graciously signed it later.
Always a class guy
Oof, just think, the Mets went into the 2020-21 offseason with a chance to get George Springer and JT Realmuto, and they almost came out of it with Jackie Bradley Jr and James McCann instead… by choice.
Of the 302 players with at least 900 PA since 2021, Bradley is 301st at -2.5 fWAR, and McCann is 287th at 0.3 fWAR. Yamahama. Not that Springer’s contract is looking particularly rosy, but compared to $64M+ for a combined -2.2 fWAR, Springer looks like a bargain.
Love this analysis.
What’s on the next episode of “comparing things that didn’t happen to other things that didn’t happen?”
The Mets did have a chance to sign both and chose not to, and they did sign one of those other two players and were connected to the other deep into the offseason… It’s fairly common to look back at the deals that didn’t happen, this deal gave me flashbacks to a pairing that almost did happen, and that plenty of Mets fans wanted.
Just some stats I saw and some sarcasm, not sure who pooped in your Reese’s Puffs
Oh I know! Do one where they sign Snell, Montgomery, and Chapman in lieu of Severino, Manaea, and bringing Vientos up.
One of those scenarios did happen.
Astro, your comment is why saberstats are not the end all. You think Toronto doesn’t wish it didn’t sign Springer? That amount is big and keeping them around the tax threshold. JBJ is a pro who costs nothing now and may provide great defense if nothing else.
I was getting acupuncture and misread the full post. That said saberstats have ruined the game for many of us.
I think I threw out some numbers in jest as a dig at the team I root for nearly going into that 2021 season with two regulars who turned out to be 2 of the worst players to play in the majors over the next few seasons.
I also think Toronto knew they had to overpay to get Springer despite known injury concerns, and they were desperate to match his bat with their promising looking young core, so they took a calculated risk and hoped the positive up front value would outweigh any of the negative value at the end of the contract.
Springer missed half a year but played at a 5 fWAR pace in his first year, was worth 4.6 fWAR in almost a full season in year two, struggled in year 3, but has actually bounced back some here in year 4, and if his recent hot streak is an indication he’s turning it around (15 XBH in his last 87 PA, including 8 HR), he could finish the year with a solid-to-good season.
Explains why you’ve been on pins and needles
Imagine how moronic you have to get to get to try say Springer is a bargain of a contract.
$150M for 10.2 fWAR and counting
$64M for -2.2 fWAR (with a chance to go further negative)
If you don’t understand comparing two things, might I recommend the kids TV show Blaze, you may find it educational.
Yes you obviously watch kids shows too much.
Boy Genius does it again!
Are we supposed to know who that is?
Doogie Howser
I’d love to see JBJ at least get back to a .250 game, but I don’t really see it happening.
The league is averaging .243. That is a batting title number today.
Uncoachable.
Saw him when I lived in Boston. Saw him when I lived in Wisconsin. Only tries when it suits him. Appears to believe his defense trumps even trying to make contact. Stands there like it’s a distraction.
I would call him in and say “If you want to play, bunt in every at bat”.
Don’t make the mistake of reading body language as attitude. The guy is cool as a cucumber at the plate but that doesn’t mean he’s not trying.
World Series here we come lol
LoL I guess Clint Frazier didn’t want to come back to NY
The Mets got two great Outfielders for Verlander. What are those players status? Are both not ready for MLB so Mets had to bring back JBJ?
Some big hits for us in 18 playoffs.. For that he’ll never have to buy a Dunkin Donut in Boston… Class personified!!! Good luck JBJ!!
Loved this guy on the Sox. Unfortunately he wasn’t a great hitter, but did have his moments
Westbrook sucks another error
I get Stearns had to do some of this in Milwaukee due to budget, etc. but enough of the dumpster diving and let the kids play. Playoff fantasies are unrealistic if they’re thinking beyond wild card and would be wise to move Alonso while we can get something for him as well as some other pieces lying around in the rotation. Move them all I say and commit to the strategy instead of some half-a$$ attempt to make a one game playoff elimination game be the achievement for the year.
What kids? There’s no outfield depth in Syracuse right now so they need someone to play there
Jackie needs to hit to all fields to be a success instead of trying to pull everything out of the park. He’s been trying that his entire career.