3 teams that should sign Jackie Bradley Jr.
By Scott Rogust
Former Boston Red Sox center fielder Jackie Bradley Jr. still remains on the open market. Here are three teams that should sign him.
Pitchers and catchers reported to their respective teams for Spring Training on Wednesday, meaning the 2021 MLB season is getting that much closer. Even with preseason games set to take place in a week, there are still some prominent names remaining on the open market. Perhaps the biggest name is Boston Red Sox outfielder Jackie Bradley Jr.
Bradley was ranked right behind George Springer, currently with the Toronto Blue Jays, in the center fielder rankings. Many thought that once the former Houston Astros outfielder would sign, Bradley would follow in short order. That has not been the case, as his asking price has turned some teams off, most notably the New York Mets.
But it is not the end of the world for Bradley, because there are teams in need of his services. Here are three teams that should make an offer to Bradley.
Scouting Report. NL. 6. Pick Analysis. East. Philadelphia Phillies. 3.. player
The Philadelphia Phillies are looking to return to the postseason for the first time since 2011. Even with signing the likes of Bryce Harper, Didi Gregorius and Zack Wheeler the past two years, they fell short of contention.
But this offseason, the Phillies made some solid moves. They managed to re-sign catcher J.T. Realmuto to a five-year contract and bolstered their bullpen (the team’s great weakness in recent years) by adding Archie Bradley and Jose Alvarado. Phillies ownership hired Dave Dombrowski to be their president of baseball operations with the purpose of bringing the team to the postseason. How about he adds a familiar face to center field?
Dombrowski has a familiarity with Bradley when he was president of baseball operations for the Boston Red Sox from 2015 until his firing in 2019. He saw him win a Gold Glove and the ALCS MVP award in the 2018 season, when the team won the World Series.
The Phillies need to do whatever it takes to build a competitive team heading into the 2021 season, because that division is going to be a war. Putting Bradley in center field could help the Phillies’ 2021 goal of making the postseason.