1:15pm: The Purple Sox have introduced that Bradley has been launched. He’ll now be free to signal with any crew for the protated league minimal, with Boston on the hook for the rest of his contract.
8:55am: The Purple Sox will designate veteran outfielder Jackie Bradley Jr. for project later immediately, reports Julian McWilliams of the Boston Globe.
Boston reacquired Bradley in an offseason commerce that despatched Hunter Renfroe to the Brewers. The commerce netted the Purple Sox a pair of prospects, infielders Alex Binelas and David Hamilton, and noticed the Sox tackle the second yr of Bradley’s two-year, $24MM contract within the course of. Successfully, the Sox bought a pair of minor leaguers by bringing Bradley again into the fold and choosing up the tab on his deal. Binelas and Hamilton rank as Boston’s No. 22 and No. 26 prospects, respectively, on Baseball America’s midseason rating of their farm system.
There was definitely some motive for the Sox to roll the cube on a Bradley reunion even after an terrible 2021 displaying that noticed him hit simply .163/.236/.261 in 428 plate appearances as a Brewer. He remained an all-world defender within the outfield, was dogged by a .226 common on balls in play that sat 64 factors beneath his profession mark, and made laborious contact at better-than-average charges (89.7 mph common exit velo, 40.3% hard-hit charge). In fact, Bradley additionally punched out at a career-worst 30.8% clip in Milwaukee, walked at a career-worst 6.5% charge and popped up extra frequently than ever earlier than.
Bradley certainly didn’t hit as poorly as he did in Milwaukee, however this season’s .210/.257/.321 slash wasn’t practically sufficient of a rebound to hold Bradley on the roster for everything of the season. He’s been 42% worse than league common with the bat, by measure of wRC+, and his defensive marks in heart discipline have fallen off a bit this season (although he’s performed proper discipline extra frequently anyhow).
25-year-old Jarren Duran has taken over the membership’s common heart fielder, getting the majority of the taking part in time there since mid-June. He hasn’t precisely lit the world on fireplace, hitting a meager .232/.280/.384, however his wRC+ of 82 remains to be effectively forward of Bradley’s, although with worse defensive numbers. It appears the membership will proceed giving him a run of taking part in time for now to see how he fares down the stretch. Boston acquired Tommy Pham on the deadline, which possible performed a component in nudging Bradley out of the nook outfield image. Pham, Duran and Alex Verdugo will possible be the common outfield rotation, with Jaylin Davis round as depth and Enrique Hernandez becoming a member of the combo as soon as he returns from the injured checklist.
As for what occurs now, there’s no means for the Sox to work out a commerce because the deadline has handed. Their solely choices with Bradley are to place him on waivers or launch him. Bradley’s protection will certainly intrigue another groups, however it appears unlikely any crew will declare him given his poor offensive efficiency and contract scenario. He’s making a $9.5MM wage this yr, leaving slightly over $3MM nonetheless to be paid out. There’s additionally a $12MM mutual choice for 2023 with an $8MM buyout. Any crew placing in a declare could be on the hook for that cash. Even the golf equipment most desirous about Bradley will possible simply watch for him to clear waivers, at which level he might elect free company and be signed for the prorated league minimal with the Purple Sox on the hook for the rest.
Within the short-term, the commerce definitely seems like a misfire for the Sox, with Renfroe having a stable season for the Brewers. He’s hit 19 house runs and is slashing .246/.299/.508 for a wRC+ of 120. Nonetheless, the long-term analysis of the deal will depend on the long run improvement of Binelas and Hamilton.
