Boston Red Sox Rumors: The Jackie Bradley Jr love affair not over

The Boston Red Sox are still in talks with Jackie Bradley Jr., his time in Boston may not be over.

The Boston Red Sox are not completely moving on from Jackie Bradley Jr.

With multiple teams reported to be interested in the gold center fielder, the fact that he has not signed with another team yet could mean a future in Boston is not out of the realm of possibility.

That is good news for Red Sox fans who have feel in love with the homegrown athlete who has blossomed as one of the top defensive outfielders in the league.

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So, if the market is not what Bradley Jr. expected, could he be leaning towards returning to Boston?

Red Sox chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom did not rule out the possibility, despite signing outfielder Hunter Renfroe who joins an outfield of Alex Verdugo and Andrew Benintendi.

"“We’re still in contact with him and have been consistently throughout the offseason,” Bloom said during an appearance on WEEI’s “Dale & Keefe” on Wednesday. “I know in the Globe recently he talked about it where that timetable is probably going to be a little longer. I would expect we’re going to stay engaged with him and hope it lines up, hope it makes sense for him and hope it fits our puzzle. You guys know and I haven’t been shy about saying it just in the short time I got to know Jackie, I just became incredibly found of him.”"

There is a lot to love about Jackie Bradley Jr.and Bloom expressing that love along with the return of Alex Cora as Red Sox manager may even have the one-time All-Star outfielder thinking a return to Boston may be his best choice.

Of course, it will come down to money, at this point Bradley Jr. is the best free agent center fielder available unless somehow Bloom makes a big free agent splash and lures George Springer to Boston.

But that situation doesn’t seem likely as Springer is leaning towards signing with another team in the AL East, the Toronto Blue Jays.

Thoughts on Jackie Bradley Jr. remaining in a Boston Red Sox uniform

With his speed and elite defense, it would be crazy not to welcome Jackie Bradley Jr. back to Boston.

While he is inconsistent offensively, he has shown the ability to come up clutch in key situations, especially during the teams World Series run in 2018.

The only question is whether Bradley Jr. will be willing to come back to Boston with a team like the Houston Astros interested and looking to replace a player like George Springer?

If Chaim Bloom and Alex Cora show him that he is still valuable in a Boston Red Sox uniform, perhaps he signs for a hometown discount. He is certainly open to the possibility.

"“If the opportunity presented itself, and if things were, I guess how things play out, then yes,” Bradley said back in November, via Masslive.com.“I’m sure we’ll talk during the offseason. And kind of see where that goes. I’m never really one to talk business, so to speak, until time. But I’m excited for the opportunity. And I think that it’s going to be an interesting one.”"

With the Boston Red Sox not offering Bradley Jr. a $18.9 million qualifying offer, one could question how badly the team really wanted him back. But it could be just the opposite. In allowing him to explore the market, they can get him at their price.

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If all doesn’t work out, they have a couple of worthy candidates in Andrew Benintendi and Alex Verdugo who can play center field. Neither one would be as dynamic, but in both the team would be gaining something offensively, especially with the addition of Hunter Renfroe.

But, for now, the Jackie Bradley Jr. romance in Boston is not completely annulled.

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