Phillies reportedly interested in center fielder Jackie Bradley Jr.

A key member of Dave Dombrowski’s 2018 World Series championship Boston Red Sox team is reportedly “drawing interest” from his new team.

Free-agent center fielder Jackie Bradley Jr. has received attention from the Philadelphia Phillies and multiple other teams, according to Jon Morosi of MLB Network. Morosi also mentioned the Chicago Cubs and Toronto Blue Jays being interested in Bradley.

Bradley is a free agent for the first time in his career after spending eight seasons with the Red Sox. He became a primary outfield starter during the 2015 season, the same season Dombrowski was hired in Boston. Bradley was an important part of that 2018 championship run, winning a Gold Glove in center field that season and earning the American League Championship Series MVP award.

With Dombrowski recently becoming the Phillies president of baseball operations, a reunion between the executive and his former player could make sense. Phillies center fielders posted an OPS of just .637 in 2020, leaving the position available for an upgrade. Bradley, a left-handed hitter, has a career OPS of .732, and had an .814 OPS this past season.

He would also be a clear improvement in the field, as he ranked in the top 9% of Statcast‘s outs above average in each of the last four seasons.

MLB Trade Rumors predicted that the 30-year-old would receive a two-year, $16 million contract in free agency. While not the best center fielder on the market, Bradley could serve as a cheaper option for a team that has not had a reliable starter at the position since 2017.

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