An Abundance of Bradleys: 4 Players the Phillies Should Target This Offseason (All of Whom are Coincidentally Named Bradley)
Brad Hand. Archie Bradley. Jackie Bradley Jr. Brad Miller…
What do these four men have in common? All of them would improve the Phillies in 2021.
When thinking about players the Phillies could sign to fill each of their holes, I noticed a pattern: there are many free agents named Bradley! Now, obviously, Dave Dombrowski should target players because they are ‘talented’ and not because it would be fun to sign four guys named Bradley in one offseason. (Although, think of the fun publicity opportunities – they could have a “Bradz” doll giveaway night at the ballpark!)
That being said, all four Bradleys are actually great fits for the team.
Here’s why.
A Brad in the Hand
This one is the most obvious fit. The Phillies need to sign at least one big name reliever, and Brad Hand certainly fits the bill. While Liam Hendriks is the most talented reliever on the market (and he’s been linked to the Phillies by plenty of sources), that means he’ll also want the most money.
The Phillies are better off splitting their resources between a few top-tier relievers, which means Hand should be one of their top targets.
Bradley Needed Relief
Another intriguing possibility for the bullpen is non-tendered reliever Archie Bradley Jr. I’m still trying to wrap my head around why the Reds non-tendered him. I know the Reds were trying to save money, but surely they could have tendered him a contract (predicted to be worth about $5 million) and then found a trade partner willing to take on his entire salary.
A pitcher of Bradley’s caliber is worth $5 million and then some, and if the Phillies can scoop him up for less, it would be an absolute steal.
Jack of All Trades
Photo: Mitchell Layton/Getty Images
Jackie Bradley Jr. can do it all. He runs well, he swings a decent bat, and most importantly, he plays absolutely stellar defense. He would be a clear upgrade over the Adam Haseley/Roman Quinn platoon, and signing Bradley would allow the Phillies to trade one of Quinn/Haseley and use the other on the bench.
Unfortunately, it seems like Jackie Bradley Jr. is in high demand, and the bidding war might drive him out of the Phillies’ price range. Centerfield isn’t the Phillies’ biggest area of need, so it’s not worth breaking the bank on Bradley. However, if he’s available at the right price, signing JBJ is a no-brainer.
Brad Miller
(Aren’t you Brad I didn’t use another lame pun?)
The Phillies will need to add a couple of strong offensive players to their bench to use as pinch hitters with no universal DH next year. Former Phillie Brad Miller fits this bill, and it would be fun to see “Bamboo Brad” back in red pinstripes. Miller is also valuable since he can play all over the diamond. He can start in left field if Andrew McCutchen needs a rest or take over at second base if Scott Kingery continues to struggle. However, Miller may be looking to sign with a team that can guarantee him more playing time. If he can find a team that will give him a starting role, the Phillies are out of luck.
Featured Image: Mitchell Layton/Getty Images
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Categorized:Phillies