Jackie Bradley Jr. will be heading into unfamiliar territory when the Red Sox’ season ends following Sunday’s game in Atlanta against the Braves, as he enters free agency for the first time in his career.
The 30-year-old center fielder intends to test the market, though that doesn’t necessarily mean his time in Boston is up.
“I don’t know what the future holds,” Bradley Jr. said. “I’m sure a lot of people don’t know what the future holds, but that’s this great thing that you kind of go through the process and you find out what’s going to be the best fit…
“If the opportunity presented itself (to return to the Red Sox)… then yes.”
But during an 18-minute Zoom press conference before Saturday’s game, Bradley Jr. certainly seemed at peace with the very real possibility that his time with the Red Sox is coming to a close after nine years with the organization that drafted him in 2011 and saw him become arguably the greatest defensive center fielder in franchise history and a key piece of the 2018 World Series winners.
Knowing that Thursday’s home finale could be his last game at Fenway Park as a member of the Red Sox, Bradley Jr. arrived at the stadium earlier than usual to soak it all in. He reflected on his journey and career, and said he felt at ease and at peace.
Jackie Bradley Jr. arrived early to Fenway Park today for what could be his last game there with the Red Sox. pic.twitter.com/dD2yBlLFnh
— Steve Hewitt (@steve_hewitt) September 24, 2020
“They’ve been everything that I think a ballplayer can go through,” Bradley Jr. said of his nine years with Boston. “The ups, the downs, the great times, the difficult times, and it’s one of those things where you sit back and reflect. You become thankful. You become thankful for every trial and tribulation you went through, the struggles, and just knowing you did the best to stay true to yourself. I tried to make sure no matter how bad I felt or how angry I was at myself for not performing the way I wanted to, that I tried to treat everyone with respect, whether it was to the reporters or to the fans. I just wanted to be better for not only them but for myself as well.
“I put a lot of belief in myself, and that’s second to none. I’m always going to believe in myself more than anybody believes in me. And I had some great times, too. Great moments. And that’s things that I will never forget.”
It may be an inopportune time for Bradley Jr. to hit free agency, given the state of the world during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and an uncertain future, but he’s at least giving himself the best chance to attract interest this winter. In addition to his standout defense in center, he’s hitting .279 with a .354 OBP, both career highs despite the small sample size. Over his last 35 games entering Saturday, he was batting .310 with a .905 OPS.
There might be some extra motivation behind that. Bradley Jr. was surprisingly not traded at the deadline on Aug. 31, and he wanted to make sure he ended the season on a high note.
“I’ve been in trade deadlines for multiple years, in talks, but after it was over with, it wasn’t like, ‘why am I here, or I’m still here,” Bradley Jr. said. “It was like, all right, let’s make the best of this. Let’s try to finish strong, the old cliché saying of finish strong, but I definitely wanted to leave a lasting impression. You can either sit here and complain about the season and everything that has transpired across the world, but we’ve got to be positive.”
From his on-field accomplishments — including an All-Star nod in 2016, a much-deserved Gold Glove and a title in 2018 — to the relationships he established and his work in the community, positive is certainly one word he’ll take out of his time with the Red Sox.
But it might not be the end just yet. Chaim Bloom said after the deadline that the Red Sox would love to have Bradley Jr. for a long time, though they haven’t offered him a contract extension. Those business talks will obviously take place after the season and in the winter, but Bradley Jr. has his priorities in order.
“This isn’t just about me,” Bradley Jr. said. “It’s about my wife, my daughter, my future son. This is a big decision, and it’s going to have an impact on not just my life, but their lives as well. I don’t take that for granted, I don’t take it lightly, and ultimately I’m going to do what I feel is best for my family, and we’ll see how that plays out.”
In the meantime, he’ll continue to reflect and cherish his potential final moments and the relationships he’s built with the Red Sox, ones that won’t soon end even if does end up bidding farewell this offseason.
“The relationships, those will never be forgotten with the guys that I played with for such a long time, the people who have been in the organization for such a long time. Staying in contact with the 10 percent of people who got laid off a couple of days ago, that was important. Those people have been in the organization for such a long time and have had an impact on my life, so I’ve gotten to talk to a couple of them.
“So, it’s been a great ride.”
