Royals sign JBJ to Minor League deal
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Faced with skinny outfield depth due to accidents early in Spring Training, the Royals signed Jackie Bradley Jr. to a Minor League take care of an invitation to huge league camp on Wednesday.
The former All-Star will be a part of the staff later this week and start competing for a roster spot. Bradley, who turns 33 subsequent month, performed eight seasons with Boston and received a World Series because the Red Sox’s beginning middle fielder in 2018. He performed for the Brewers in ’21 and went again to Boston for the beginning of ’22 earlier than ending the 12 months with Toronto.
Bradley has a profession .227/.306/.386 slash line, and whereas he’s by no means been a constant offensive menace, he can play Gold Glove-caliber middle discipline. His 74 defensive runs saved and 58 outs above common place Bradley within the prime 10 amongst outfielders courting to his 2013 debut (Statcast was launched in ‘15).
That’s precisely what the Royals want.
The membership had two unlucky accidents occur in the beginning of spring when outfielders Drew Waters and Diego Hernandez went down with a left indirect pressure and dislocated proper shoulder, respectively.
Waters was competing for the on a regular basis center-field job this spring, which now’s Kyle Isbel’s job to lose. Hernández, 21, hasn’t but performed above Double-A, however he’s on the 40-man roster and would have been in a position to play middle discipline within the Majors if the Royals bought in a bind. Brewer Hicklen, who performed middle discipline in Triple-A final 12 months, can be out with a proper elbow pressure.
Behind Isbel, the Royals have Nate Eaton and Samad Taylor on the 40-man who each can play middle discipline, and whereas Eaton’s versatility would possibly earn him a roster spot, Taylor doubtless wants extra time growing in Triple-A. Kansas City can be comfy placing Dairon Blanco and Tyler Tolbert on the market, however they’re not on the roster and sure wouldn’t be viable on a regular basis choices within the Majors if one other harm occurred.
Once Hernandez went down, the Royals started exploring choices to deliver outfield depth to camp. Bradley is a stable veteran fallback and can compete for a spot on the Opening Day roster with proper discipline at present up for grabs, in addition to a bench spot.
Because Bradley was an XX(B) Major League free agent, he will get one choose out per the Basic Agreement. That can be on March 25, in keeping with a supply, which is 5 days earlier than Opening Day.
