Red Sox outfielder Jackie Bradley Jr.’s future uncertain amidst trade rumors

Boston Red Sox outfielder Jackie Bradley Jr. is waiting along with the rest of us to find out his future as he enters his final year before free agency.

We can count on Jackie Bradley Jr. to track down any fly ball hit in his vicinity when he’s patrolling center field. When it comes to tracking his future with the Boston Red Sox, the outlook is far less certain.

Next season will be Bradley Jr.’s last before he’s eligible to test free agency for the first time in his career. While the Red Sox proactively locked up certain players before they hit the market, it appears Bradley Jr. hasn’t been deemed as an indispensable part of their core since there hasn’t been any whisper of extension talks.

Boston’s payroll concerns are well documented as ownership has expressed a desire to dip under the $208 million luxury tax threshold in order to reset the penalties that escalate for repeat offenders. Bradley Jr. is projected to earn $11 million in his final year of arbitration and moving his salary could be one way to reduce payroll.

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Bradley Jr. has seen his name floated in trade rumors for years but a potential deal becomes increasingly more likely as he moves closer to free agency. If the Red Sox can trade him for a back of the rotation starter or an impact bullpen arm with a cheaper contract, they could kill two birds with one stone.

The 29-year old has always been a streaky hitter, producing an unappealing .236 batting average over his seven-year career with the Red Sox. He provides a bit of pop with multiple seasons in which he’s displayed 20+ homer upside. Bradley Jr. has decent speed and he’s a smart base runner. Most importantly, he’s a Gold Glove-caliber center fielder.

He can provide plenty of value even when his bat goes cold, which should make him an appealing target for several teams scouring the trade market for an outfielder. Even if he has to wait a year for free agency, Bradley Jr. will have suitors when he becomes available.

The uncertainty around his future has been weighing on his mind but Bradley Jr. told The Athletic’s Jen McCaffrey that he’s taking a wait-and-see approach to the offseason.

"“You always think about it,” Bradley said. “You might not always share what you’re thinking. But I guess I’ll find out when you find out, too. It’s one of those things you just have to wait and see what happens.”"

In a world where reporters dig up inside scoops that can be shared instantaneously with a single Tweet, we literally could learn about Bradley’s future at the same time he finds out.

The Red Sox front office is in a transition state as they search for a new general manager. It’s certainly possible that the next executive to shape the franchise values Bradley Jr. more than the previous regime and moves quickly to lock him up.

The four executives running baseball operations in the meantime don’t appear to be in a rush to make any moves so it could be a while before we find out Bradley’s future. In the meantime, all Bradley Jr. can do is sit and wait to see what happens. We’ll do the same.