Ex-Red Sox Fan Favorite Outfielder Seeking MLB Deal Despite Retirement Rumors
With the Boston Red Sox just hours away from their first spring training game on Friday, plenty of free agents are still on the board.
Most of the attention rightfully remains on the quartet known as the "Boras Four," -- outfielder Cody Bellinger, third baseman Matt Chapman and southpaws Blake Snell plus Jordan Montgomery -- but there also are some players just trying to find a team to take a chance on them.
One of those players is a former homegrown Red Sox outfielder who has bounced around following nine seasons in Boston.
"Jackie Bradley Jr. is working out and looking to see if he can get a job now," the New York Post's Jon Heyman reported Thursday.
Bradley is known for his stellar defense but his offensive profile is keeping him out of the big leagues.
The 33-year-old hit .133 with six extra-base hits including one home run, six RBIs and a .397 OPS (10 OPS+) in 43 games last season.
Bradley posted four outs above average and displayed 91st-percentile arm strength last season in limited work.
At this juncture, Bradley makes the most sense as a minor-league deal candidate who could potentially end up as a fourth outfielder down the line to improve upon a club's depth.
The Red Sox would not be a fit given their deep group of young outfielders, especially Ceddanne Rafaela, who is projected to be every bit as good as a 33-year-old Bradley -- some believe he could rival Bradley's prime defensive years as well.
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