The annual Jackie Bradley Jr thread (2019 Edition)

[moonslav59]

Castillo's only added cost is the tax. 2020 could be his year!

 

Why trade JBJ to save the tax, only to replace the tax by calling up Castillo?

[dannycater]

Castillo was supposed to be the 2nd coming of Puig, or the first coming of some exotic International star...the more I look back, it's utterly amazing his name still comes up.

[notin]

Rusney Castillo, Panda Sandoval, Carl Crawford, Pearce, Nathan Eavoldi...albatross salaries

 

Well they’re not paying Crawford anymore.

 

But Pedroia is a highly paid spectator...

[Slasher9]

Well they’re not paying Crawford anymore.

 

But Pedroia is a highly paid spectator...

 

are we finally out from under Panda after this season?

[moonslav59]

are we finally out from under Panda after this season?

 

Yes. Maybe we should re-sign him!

 

(LOL)

[dannycater]

Well they’re not paying Crawford anymore.

 

But Pedroia is a highly paid spectator...

 

Another bad salary, wow, so much wasted cash.

[dannycater]

They should always do a "fit" test on some free agents. Carl Crawford and Panda were 2 guys that not only did I think were not going to fit BEFORE they were signed I was convinced both would collosally fail and be sent out of town. Sadly I was right on both.

[Maxbialystock]

JBJ is the embodiment of this opening passage to Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities--

 

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.”

 

In short, JBJ drives any sensible Sox fan nuts because of his now legendary ups and downs. My suspicion is that he will never repeat 2016, by far his best (OPS .835) season, but will continue to come close to his career OPS of .723. Right now he's at .717, but that was built on horrendously bad April and May, a stunningly good June, and a subpar July.

 

Nevertheless, I'm glad he wasn't traded and won't mind if he returns next year or if he is traded for someone of value. He helps the Sox claim to have one of the better defensive outfields in MLB and especially allows Mookie to excel in RF.

[dannycater]

JD may opt out of Sox, but I'll tell you this, sure as hell glad every time he is in the lineup, always a chance of a bomb or a big hit.

[Bellhorn04]

Why trade JBJ to save the tax, only to replace the tax by calling up Castillo?

 

If you trade JBJ you're not just saving the tax, you're saving his salary.

 

Castillo's salary is a sunk cost, that's the difference.

[Larry33]

JBJ should be nothing more than a late inning defensive replacement. I don't get all the clamoring for the guy he's definitely not the player we all expected him to be heck his stats won't even live up to a Coco Crisp like career. He reached his peek back in 2016 ever since it's been a steady decline with each year being worse than the previous all his stats are getting weaker as each year goes by his WAR is not even one. The way he's trending he'll be a negative WAR player by next season.

[dannycater]

The only pitcher I ever wanted the Sox to throw the kitchen sink at was Lester. Instead they gave the big money to Price/Sale. But won a title, so all good.

[Bellhorn04]

JBJ should be nothing more than a late inning defensive replacement. I don't get all the clamoring for the guy he's definitely not the player we all expected him to be heck his stats won't even live up to a Coco Crisp like career. He reached his peek back in 2016 ever since it's been a steady decline with each year being worse than the previous all his stats are getting weaker as each year goes by his WAR is not even one. The way he's trending he'll be a negative WAR player by next season.

 

Coco Crisp is actually pretty much a bang-on comp for JBJ.

[notin]

If you trade JBJ you're not just saving the tax, you're saving his salary.

 

Castillo's salary is a sunk cost, that's the difference.

 

It’s not sunk if he plays up to a 2.0 fWAR capability...

[Bellhorn04]

It’s not sunk if he plays up to a 2.0 fWAR capability...

 

Sunk cost: a cost that has already been incurred and cannot be recovered.

 

But yes, it's possible that he might actually earn his 2020 salary...

[Larry33]

Coco Crisp is actually pretty much a bang-on comp for JBJ.

 

Not unless he picks up the pace there's no way JBJ will finish with .265 avg 327 OBP 402 SLG 729 OPS with 309 SB and 28.5 WAR career

 

He's been a steady decline since 2016 right now he's navigating into a life boat that's taking on water and ready to sink anytime.

[dannycater]

Sunk cost....try the Titantic and Lusitania (not to be confused with the Goodship LuisTiant)

[devildavid]

It’s not sunk if he plays up to a 2.0 fWAR capability...

 

That is an enormous IF.

[notin]

That is an enormous IF.

 

Not really. He has shown himself to be a very capable defender

[Slasher9]

If you trade JBJ you're not just saving the tax, you're saving his salary.

 

Castillo's salary is a sunk cost, that's the difference.

 

I could see this happening for sure. The last season of castillo contract makes it very doable. JBj can make the decision harder by finishing north of .750

[Larry33]

Not really. He has shown himself to be a very capable defender

 

Well there's 2 sides to this game an offensive and defensive side an everyday players should be able to both respectively well which cannot be said in JBJ case. Since 2016 his stats has been in a steady decline with each year progression the worst the numbers has become from 5.5 WAR to 0.9 WAR. The argument could be made is he worthy of even being an everyday player or a late defensive replacement.

[Bellhorn04]

One crazy thing about Castillo is that, according to B-R, he becomes arbitration-eligible in 2022. Which seems to indicate that for 2021 the Sox can pay him league minimum.

 

The other crazy thing is that he turns 34 in 2021.

[Bellhorn04]

Well there's 2 sides to this game an offensive and defensive side an everyday players should be able to both respectively well which cannot be said in JBJ case. Since 2016 his stats has been in a steady decline with each year progression the worst the numbers has become from 5.5 WAR to 0.9 WAR. The argument could be made is he worthy of even being an everyday player or a late defensive replacement.

 

As part of my duties as Forum Clarifier, I will point out that notin's post was about Castillo, not Bradley.

[notin]

As part of my duties as Forum Clarifier, I will point out that notin's post was about Castillo, not Bradley.

 

As for Bradley, he is a legitimate non-tender candidate. He probably north of $10mill in arbitration, which is a bit pricey for a bottom of the order glove/part time bat. Now the Sox might still re-sign him at a reduced price..

[Station 13]

One crazy thing about Castillo is that, according to B-R, he becomes arbitration-eligible in 2022. Which seems to indicate that for 2021 the Sox can pay him league minimum.

 

The other crazy thing is that he turns 34 in 2021.

 

Can they? I thought after his contract ends, he is a free agent.

[Bellhorn04]

Can they? I thought after his contract ends, he is a free agent.

 

You could be right. I'm just going by his B-R page. It says there he's not a free agent until 2025. But I can't find anything else about it.

[devildavid]

Not really. He has shown himself to be a very capable defender

 

He has not shown himself to be a capable Major League player.

[illinoisredsox]

As for Bradley, he is a legitimate non-tender candidate. He probably north of $10mill in arbitration, which is a bit pricey for a bottom of the order glove/part time bat. Now the Sox might still re-sign him at a reduced price..

 

Can they? I thought after his contract ends, he is a free agent.

 

If they non-tender him, he does become a free agent able to sign anywhere. I think he will be non-tendered but there is no way he will resign with Boston. I also think he will be very surprised how little he will be offered elsewhere.

 

OTOH, one also wonders how much he actually likes playing baseball. He has had multiple hitting coaches, none of whom have been able to get through to him. JDM changed his whole approach to become what he has been the last few years. Ortiz studied hitting. JBJ has never changed his approach; frankly, I don't really think he actually has a hitting approach other than swing hard and hope it connects.

 

His D is still very good, but, while I don't see all games, I think it has slipped a little this season. There are others out there who are almost as good defensively, hit more consistently and are cheaper.

[dgalehouse]

As part of my duties as Forum Clarifier, I will point out that notin's post was about Castillo, not Bradley.

 

That's it . The Clarifier.

[notin]

He has not shown himself to be a capable Major League player.

 

Disagree.

 

In 99 careen games, he’s been worth about 1 fWAR. This does make him a borderline starter. Now he did play a significant chunk of those games after injuring his shoulder on a dive, which does appear to have an effect on his hitting.

 

He won’t be a star and is likely a step down from Bradley, but financed might dictate a move like this...