The Milwaukee Brewers and center fielder Jackie Bradley Jr. agreed to a two-year contract worth $24 million, sources tell Jeff Passan of ESPN.
The deal reportedly includes an opt-out after 2021.
Bradley's wife confirmed the move Thursday on Twitter:
There aren’t enough words to convey how I feel but thank you @RedSox @RedSoxFund & fans for the great memories. I won’t say goodbye but see ya later, for Boston will always have a place in my heart. For now I say hello @Brewers -can’t wait for this new adventure @JackieBradleyJr
— Erin Bradley (@erinhbradley) March 4, 2021
The 30-year-old had spent the previous eight seasons with the Boston Red Sox, the club that drafted him 40th overall in 2011. He was the top free-agent position player still available with spring training underway.
Typically a glove-first outfielder, the former All-Star is coming off one of his best seasons at the plate, hitting .283/.364/.450 with seven home runs and five steals over 55 games in 2020.
Bradley has been worth 44.6 runs on defense over his eight-year career, according to FanGraphs. The 2018 Gold Glove Award winner and ALCS MVP has saved 53 runs by DRS and 36.5 runs by UZR.
The move likely pushes Lorenzo Cain to a corner outfield position, filling the gap that Ryan Braun left. Cain, 34, signed a five-year, $80-million contract with the Brewers prior to the 2018 season.