The Red Sox and Brewers swung a significant trade Wednesday night just ahead of the lockout, with Boston shipping outfielder Hunter Renfroe to Milwaukee for a package centered around Jackie Bradley Jr.
Bradley, 31, was a mainstay for Boston from 2013 to 2020, starring defensively in the outfield before the Gold Glover signed a two-year deal with the Brewers last offseason. In 2018, when the Red Sox won a franchise-record 108 games and the World Series, he was the AL Championship Series MVP.
A lifetime .230 hitter never known for his offense, he struggled even more at the plate in Milwaukee, batting .163 last season with six homers in 134 games.
Renfroe was a major surprise for the Red Sox in 2021, posting career bests in batting average (.259), runs scored (89), doubles (33), extra-base hits (64) and RBIs (96), while slugging 31 home runs. He tied for the major league lead with a career-high 16 outfield assists.
Renfroe, 29, adds power to Milwaukee’s lineup after Avisail Garcia left for the Marlins and Eduardo Escobar went to the Mets in free agency. He will be part of a Brewers outfield that includes Christian Yelich, Lorenzo Cain and Tyrone Taylor.
The Red Sox also received two minor leaguers from the Brewers, infielders David Hamilton and Alex Binelas.
Binelas is a 21-year-old third-round draft pick who batted .309 with nine home runs and 29 RBIs in the low minors last season. Hamilton, 24, hit .258 eight homers and 43 RBIs in 101 games at Class A and Double-A.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.