Bobby

Bradley

Cleveland continues to clean house, jettisoning both Bradley and fellow slugger Franmil Reyes from their system. The 26-year-old first baseman, who was removed from the Guardians’ 40-man roster back in May, managed just two hits in 17 at-bats earlier this season in the majors and has hit just .199/.278/.414 with 17 homers and 45 RBI in 97 games at the big-league level since 2019.

Bradley was designated for assignment on Sunday and ultimately passed through waivers unclaimed. The 25-year-old has some power but holds an ugly .199/.278/.414 career batting line at the major league level.

Bradley opened the season as the Guardians starting first baseman, but quickly fell out of favor after slashing just .118/.118/.118 with nine strikeouts in 17 plate appearances. He did smash 16 homers in 74 games during the 2021 season, so there may be something here if an interested club wanted to take a chance on waivers.

Bradley struck out three times during Friday’s loss to the Yankees and will take a seat Saturday afternoon in favor of Josh Naylor with crafty left-hander Nestor Cortes on the hill for New York. The 25-year-old first baseman figures to be relegated to the bench on a semi-regular basis once breakout sensation Owen Miller is ready to return from the injured list.

He was removed for a pinch-hitter with Aroldis Chapman pitching in the ninth. Bradley was supposed to be the Guardians’ first baseman against right-handers, but he quickly found himself supplanted when others got off to hot starts. He might land on the waiver wire later this season.

Bradley is on the bench for the third consecutive game, with Owen Miller getting the nod at the cold corner in his place. The 25-year-old slugger has appeared in three games this season and has gone 0-for-4 at the plate. Meanwhile, Miller has collected six hits, including three doubles, in 11 at-bats to open the 2022 campaign.

Bradley homered in the final frame -- the seventh since this was the second game of a doubleheader -- to turn a 4-1 deficit into a 4-2 game. Power was never a question mark for Bradley, and the 25-year-old has gone deep 14 times in 65 games. The question is still whether he can hit for a high enough average (.210) for it to ever matter in terms of fantasy production.

The 25-year-old has been in a bit of a funk since coming back from the injured list at the end of August, but maybe this game will get him going. Bradley is batting .224/.316/.468 over 201 at-bats with 13 home runs, 10 doubles, and 36 RBI.

Bradley picked up an RBI double in the ninth inning to finally get the Tribe on the board against the Red Sox. Franmil Reyes would follow shortly thereafter with a game-tying two-run home run off Adam Ottavino before the boys from Fenway regrouped from a game-winning run in the bottom of the frame. For his part this season, Bradley is slashing .220/.320/.474 with 12 home runs and 30 RBI in 52 games played.

Bradley came through with a two-run home run in the eighth inning to put the Tribe up a comfortable 7-0 on the scoreboard. Overall this season, the 25-year-old Bradley is slashing .215/.310/.479 with 12 home runs and 28 RBI across 49 games played. Tuesday’s home run was his first since late July, though to be fair, a knee strain cost him about half of the month of August.