Boston Red Sox: Is trading Jackie Bradley a viable option?

Boston Red Sox outfielder Jackie Bradley is noted for his inconsistency. He’s either incredibly productive or an automatic out. Is it time to trade him?

Jackie Bradley is the Clay Buchholz of position players on the Red Sox. JBJ is capable of incredible displays of consistently good hitting, as witnessed by his 29-game hit streak in 2016 – best in the American League.

Bradley also went into the toilet for a good portion of the second half with a .233 average that had a .198 August embedded in the not so grand total. The one positive nugget was second half home runs were 12 and first half checked in at 14.

This is what Bradley has done throughout his relatively short career. Red Sox fans are well aware of Bradley’s roller coaster history and usually attached to comments about JBJ is “If he could only hit .260?” Well, he came close at .267 since that statement took into consideration his fielding skills.

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So head to the most obvious and consisted success of Bradley – the fielding. Just attending a few games and using the eyeball test you can see the skill level. Closing gaps in left and right center, charging the ball, acrobatic plays, going back on the ball and the best of all the howitzer that is disguised as his right arm.

Bradley became an All-Star in 2016 and an important qualifier was his fielding skills. If you are a worshiper of metrics, Bradley was ranked second among American League center fielders. Only Kevin Pillar was ranked higher and I have no issue with that.

Bradley’s sometimes prolonged droughts at hitting often have attached to them some monstrous strikeout totals. That is what we all painfully saw in the playoffs with Cleveland. The more swings and misses the less contract and a natural drop in batting average and overall production.

The aggregate numbers for 2016 are far more digestible. Bradley, despite spending considerable time in the depths of the batting order, still managed 87 RBI. Then the various splits. Overall, Bradley was ranked fourth among American League outfielders with a 4.8 fWAR. ISO was a more than respectable ninth at .219 and his 26 home runs ranked tenth. But that damn roller coaster of inconsistency – especially long slumps.

Now is the time to trade Bradley.

The White Sox had a hankering for Bradley if you believe the baseball rumor mongers. A possible centerpiece in a package for Chris Sale that the Red Sox rejected. That is the kind of talent that can be mentioned when looking at moving Bradley. This is a very good player – who may or may not reach another level. Ah – the risk!

Bradley is 26-years old and a left-handed hitter with decent power and a superior glove and arm. Do not expect any dramatic swings in the various pitch discipline metrics that have been fairly consistent for Bradley. The measurement tool is to hope that magically his slumps – month long in size – are minimized to more acceptable chunks of time.