Countdown to Sox Spring: Bradley is the man in the middle

This is part of a new BSJ series, designed to get you ready for spring training. Each day, we’ll take a look at a particular position and examine it from the major league level, evaluating depth at the position and looking ahead to some prospects in the minors.

Today: Center field

OVERVIEW: The Red Sox have been blessed with some outstanding center fielders in recent history, from Reggie Smith to Fred Lynn to Tony Armas, and more recently, Johnny Damon and Jacoby Ellsbury. Want to go back farther in club history? There was Dominic DiMaggio and Jimmy Piersall. All were talented defenders, but it’s hard to believe that any one of them was better at the position than the current occupant, Jackie Bradley Jr. The strange thing is, the defensive metrics don’t properly illustrate that. In fact, one measurement in particular – Total Zone Total Fielding Runs Above Average – ranked Bradley below average last year, with a minus-three rating. How can that be?  A simple eye test can tell the most casual baseball fan that Bradley is a super outfielder who utilizes terrific instincts to get great jumps. It’s a reminder that in this age of analytics, some measurements are, to put it politely, imperfect. Bradley’s name came up in trade talks over the winter, but the Red Sox weren’t interested in talking about a deal.

STARTER: Jackie Bradley Jr.

CONTRACTUAL STATUS: Agreed to a $6.1 million salary
ELIGIBLE FOR FREE AGENCY: After 2020 season
NOTABLE 2017 STATS:  .323 OBP/.402 SLG/.726 OPS…Actually hit lefties (.276 BA) better than righties (.235 BA)…Had an .825 OPS with RISP…Saw drop-off in homers, RBI and slugging percentage from 2016…Had six assists from the outfield.
ASSESSMENT:  Never mind what some metrics reveal: Bradley remains an elite center fielder, with a strong (if sometimes erratic) throwing arm. But he could use some improvement with his offensive consistency, which has been an issue for most of his major league career. To say that Bradley is streaky is an understatement.  He was hitting .171 into mid-May before getting hot. Perhaps working with new hitting coach Tim Hyers can help Bradley become more consistent.  He has the ability to hit for power, as he demonstrated in 2016 when he posted a .486 slugging percentage. Obviously, his main value is in center, but he seems capable of more as a hitter.

BACKUP: Rusney Castillo
CONTRACTUAL STATUS: $11 million salary in 2018, as part of a seven-year, $72.5 million contract
ELIGIBLE FOR FREE AGENCY:  After 2020 season; can opt-out after 2019
NOTABLE 2017 STATS:  (at Triple-A Pawtucket) .350 OBP/.507 SLG/.857 OPS…Had a breakthrough season in the minors, flashing power (15 homers) and speed (14 steals in 16 attempts)…Could still use improvement in plate discipline, with just 11 walks in 347 at-bats.
ASSESSMENT:  Technically, Bradley’s backup in center is really Andrew Benintendi, who slides over to cover center if Bradley is out of the lineup. That will probably be the case again this year, especially since projected fourth outfielder Bryce Brentz isn’t a center fielder. But within the organization, Castillo is the most obvious backup in center.  Here’s the problem: to get Castillo onto the major league roster, the Sox would have to have his salary count against their payroll and that 2018 salary of $11 million is hardly one usually associated with a backup outfielder. Castillo may have finally made good on his potential – albeit at the minor league level – but it’s hard to envision him being much of a factor in Boston this year, given concerns with the luxury tax threshold.

THE FUTURE: Cole Brannen
NOTABLE 2017 STATS:  (low minors) .383 OBP/.286 SLG/.630 OPS
SCOUTING REPORT: Brannen was the Red Sox’ second-round pick last June, drafted out of high school in Georgia and signed for $1.3 million. He’s already made it onto some Top 10 lists in the organization. He’s athletic with above-average speed and defensive ability and could grow into some power. But at 20 years old with a little more than a month of pro ball to his credit, he’s got a lot of developing still to do.