Former World Series Champion OF "Expected" to Retire

According to a report from MLB Insider Jon Heyman of the New York Post, World Series champion outfielder Jackie Bradley Jr. is "expected" to retire this offseason.

Jackie Bradley Jr., one of the better defensive center fielders of the era, is expected to retire.

Bradley started the 2023 season with the Kansas City Royals but was waived back in June.

Always known as a streaky hitter, Bradley wasn't able to put it together this season in Kansas City, where he signed right before the season began. He posted just a .398 OPS.

It looks increasingly unlikely that Bradley Jr. would have suitors who would give him a starting role, so perhaps at age 33, he just doesn't want to be a bench player. Even if he did sign, he'd likely only get a minor league deal with an invite to spring training.

He's a lifetime .225 hitter across parts of 11 years with the Red Sox, Brewers, Blue Jays and Royals. He was named an All-Star in 2016 and won a Gold Glove in 2018. 

He helped the Red Sox win the World Series in 2018 when he paired with Mookie Betts and Andrew Benintendi to make one of the best young outfields in the league. He went to the Brewers after the 2020 season but then was shipped back to Boston prior to 2022. He ended 2022 with the Blue Jays, where he was part of a Jays team that made the playoffs.

He has 109 career home runs and 449 career RBIs. 

If this is it for JBJ, he will go down as one of the best defensive CFs in Red Sox history, if not the best.