Boston Red Sox: Possible Jackie Bradley Jr. trade destinations
By Tim Boyle
Oakland Athletics
A center fielder has been a need for the Oakland Athletics for quite some time. They’ve recently employed veterans Coco Crisp and Rajai Davis at the position, but neither was more than a temporary solution. Although Bradley Jr. is no spring chicken, he’s a controllable guy, even the Athletics can afford.
One thing the Athletics would appreciate about Bradley Jr. is his defense. At a place like the Oakland Coliseum, it’s important to have a center fielder with a good glove. Bradley Jr. is a well above-average defender who should continue to steal away many hits.
As for his bat, that’s an upgrade for the Athletics over what they have recently experienced. Although his overall 2016 numbers slant positively due to his amazing spring, Bradley Jr. had another fine year in 2017. He’s not someone who will hit much better than .260, but he will draw his share of walks. He’s not exactly Joey Votto, but he’s also no Adam Jones when it comes to plate discipline.
If the Athletics are interested in competing at all in the next few seasons, they might be able to grab a solid center field option for cheaper than he’s worth. Bradley Jr. already has the winning experience and could bring some of that to the locker room for a quick turnaround in Oakland.