Jackie Bradley Jr.
The Oakland A’s have the potential to have a strong outfield in 2023 if players return to form.
However, there is no guarantee that the A’s will have that outfield heading into next year. Ramon Laureano could end up being traded if a team is willing to pay for his previous performance. Players may not live up to their potential or replicate their smaller sample size performances. It makes sense to bring in a veteran option that could return to form themselves.
Enter Jackie Bradley Jr. While he has typically been below average with the bat, he does have a blend of decent power and speed while being able to draw a walk. Bradley has also been an excellent defensive option, capable of playing all three spots in the outfield while performing at a Gold Glove level.
It has been years since Bradley was even close to respectable offensively. He has a combined 45 OPS+ with ten homers and 37 doubles in his 798 plate appearances since the start of the 2021 season. However, he can still provide enough defensively to serve as a fourth outfielder and, if he can get his bat back on track, could be a bargain.
Jackie Bradley Jr. is likely going to have to settle for a minor league contract to prove himself. He could be a perfect option for the Oakland A’s to fill out the outfield.