Call to the pen
Fansided

From trades to free agents, MLB’s weirdest moves of the offseason

By Colton Stewart

Mar 27, 2022; Fort Myers, Florida, USA; Minnesota Twins shortstop Carlos Correa (4) signals from the field prior to the game against the Boston Red Sox during spring training at CenturyLink Sports Complex. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 27, 2022; Fort Myers, Florida, USA; Minnesota Twins shortstop Carlos Correa (4) signals from the field prior to the game against the Boston Red Sox during spring training at CenturyLink Sports Complex. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 21, 2022; Fort Myers, Florida, USA; Boston Red Sox center fielder Jackie Bradley Jr. (19) looks on after striking out in the second inning of the game against the Atlanta Braves during spring training at JetBlue Park at Fenway South. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 21, 2022; Fort Myers, Florida, USA; Boston Red Sox center fielder Jackie Bradley Jr. (19) looks on after striking out in the second inning of the game against the Atlanta Braves during spring training at JetBlue Park at Fenway South. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports /

Red Sox trade Hunter Renfroe for Jackie Bradley Jr.

I had to put this one on here because I really don’t like it at all. JBJ is a great defensive outfielder and knows the landscape of Fenway Park well with seven seasons under his belt playing in Boston. But, he is coming off one of the worst hitting seasons you might ever see.

With the Milwaukee Brewers in 2021, he had a slash line of .163/.236/.261 for a .497 OPS and 35 WRC+. For players with at least 400 plate appearances, he by far had the lowest WRC+ with the next closest person being Kevin Newman at 54, 19 points higher (which is a lot in regard to WRC+). The next closest person in OPS was Andrelton Simmons at .558, which is still 60 points higher than Jackie.

Again just for a little more perspective on how bad he was last season. Per The Washington Post, pitchers in 2019 had a .131 batting average with a .329 OPS. He was only 32 points better by batting average and only 168 points better by OPS. The average hitter in 2021 had a .728 OPS.

I get the defensive ability he has but trading Hunter Renfroe, who is probably a below average defensive player but was good at the plate last season hitting 31 home run with an .816 OPS and 114 WRC+, just doesn’t seem like a fair move. Along with the fact that he has a cannon and you have Kiké Hernandez in center field to make up some of his lost ground.

This was a heck of a deal for Milwaukee to not only get off the money for Jackie Bradley Jr. but to also get a good player in return to add to your lineup. I hope Jackie can make some sort of comeback at the plate and this can work out for both Boston and him in the long term.

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