Royals interested in trading for outfielder Jackie Bradley Jr.

The Boston Red Sox are looking to break up their outfield under new General Manager Dave Dombrowski and Boston writer Rob Bradford writes that Jackie Bradley Jr. could be the player that departs. He adds that the Royals and Cubs are two of the teams that have already expressed interest in the 25-year old. Bradley would certainly fit in the Royals philosophy of having a great outfield defense. Bradley was a finalist for a Gold Glove in 2014, despite being demoted to AAA Pawtucket mid-season. Bradley had +14 Defensive Runs Saved in 2014, and was +8 this year in just 71 games.

Bradley had by far his best offensive season last year hitting .249/.335/.498 with 10 HR 43 RBI in just 255 plate appearances. However Bradley was very streaky, riding a red-hot August to put up good overall numbers. As Steve Adams at MLB Trade Rumors points out:

A .451 BABIP that month helped propel Bradley to a .354/.429/.734 batting line — the power he showed does indicate that there was more to the surge than pure luck on balls put into play — but he didn’t post an OPS mark greater than .739 (just barely higher than his August slugging, alone) in any other month of the season.

Bradley struggled mightily with the bat in 2014, hitting below the Mendoza Line with a .531 OPS. Bradley has a reverse split, so he shouldn't be a liability against left-handed pitchers. Bradley was originally a first-round pick in 2011 out of the University of South Carolina. He turns 26 in April, and won't be eligible for free agency until at least after the 2020 season. Bradley will be eligible for arbitration next winter, so he is still a very cheap player salary-wise, although the Red Sox are likely to ask for a lot in return for a trade.