According to a report from Rob Bradford, the Cubs and Royals “have surfaced as teams who were possibly ready to take a run at Bradley Jr. to fill their vacant outfield spots.”
It should not come as a surprise the Cubs are reportedly interested in Jackie Bradley Jr. Theo Epstein drafted him in 2011 and the front office is exploring ways to fill a void in center field.
Rob Bradford talked to one GM that told him the Red Sox would be selling high on Bradley Jr. but as he pointed out, Bradley Jr. struggled at the end of the season and questions remain about him being a Major League regular.
For the season, Bradley Jr. hit only .249/.335/.498 in 74 games with 17 doubles, four triples and 10 home runs for a .832 OPS. Bradley walked 27 times with 69 strikeouts in 255 plate appearances.
After the break in which he played 60 of his 74 games, Bradley Jr. batted .267/.352/.539 with 17 doubles, four triples and nine home runs for a .891 OPS. Most of the success came in August.
Bradley Jr. hit only .222/.311/.456 in September with a .766 OPS and was just 2-for-12 in his final four games of the season.
Jackie Bradley Jr. did hit lefties to the tune of a .306/.390/.528 with a .918 OPS in 72 at bats. Against right handed pitching, Bradley Jr. had a .221/.308/.483 line with a .791 OPS.
From an offensive standpoint, unless the Red Sox are willing to trade him for equal value, Jackie Bradley Jr., even at 25 years old, does not appear to be an answer to the questions the Cubs have in center field.
• Full Report from Rob Bradford
• Jackie Bradley Jr.’s Page on Baseball-Reference