Boston Red Sox: Possible Jackie Bradley Jr. trade destinations
By Tim Boyle
Seattle Mariners
Not all destinations for Bradley Jr. require going through a rebuild. The Seattle Mariners will also need a center fielder this offseason. After failing to crack the postseason again in 2017, it’s important Seattle does whatever it can to end the longest drought in MLB.
The Mariners don’t have many really great center field options next year. Ben Gamel may play left field and Mitch Haniger could again start in right field. Their inexperience is a little questionable so to add Bradley Jr. into the mix might make things a bit better.
The downside to Bradley Jr. in a Mariners’ uniform is that he doesn’t provide them with something they should look for in whomever it is they choose: stolen bases. Last season’s starting center fielder Jarrod Dyson led the team with 28. Second baseman Jean Segura did steal a solid 22. Seattle cannot depend on him to completely carry the team in the speed department.
If the Mariners spend big this year in free agency it should be on starting pitching. They can get a good first baseman for a bargain contract and can also upgrade center field for the reasonably priced Bradley Jr. Thanks to the arbitration process, the Mariners can keep Bradley Jr. for a low-cost for three more seasons and give them some stability in center field.
After so many years of Ken Griffey Jr. manning center field, why not try another guy who shares a name with his father?