JBJ laments losses
FORT MYERS — In many ways, Jackie Bradley Jr. grew up with Mookie Betts on the Red Sox.
They were both drafted by Boston in 2011. Bradley made his big-league debut in 2013, and Betts came up the year after. Together they formed one of the best defensive outfields in baseball as they became close friends and eventually champions in 2018. So it was obviously tough for Bradley to see Betts, along with David Price, traded to the Dodgers this week.
But at least in front of cameras and microphones, Bradley does a good job of hiding his emotions. The center fielder cherished his time with Betts and Price but understands it’s a part of the sport, no matter how jarring it might be to see your friends get traded across the country.
“Time to move forward,” Bradley Jr. said Tuesday at JetBlue Park. “It’s one of those things that’s part of the business and you kind of go with the flow.”
Bradley said he’s been in contact with Betts, but didn’t reveal much about their conversations.
“I personally don’t know what he’s feeling inside,” Bradley said. “I talked with him and things like that . ...
“Markus is Markus,” Bradley added. “We’ve been roommates, so to speak, since we first got drafted together. We’re pretty close and we’re like brothers.”
Barnes carries belief
The trade of Betts and Price has drastically lowered expectations for the 2020 Red Sox. Even Chaim Bloom admitted Monday night that it’s “reasonable to expect that we’re going to be worse without them.” But they also believe in the talent that remains.
Count reliever Matt Barnes among all of the players who have said they believe in this team and think they can compete this season.
“Mookie and D.P. were phenomenal players and still are phenomenal players, but you look around our team, we’ve got a bunch of AllStars and a bunch of phenomenal players, and we still feel we’re going to compete for a championship,” Barnes said.
Welcome to camp
The Red Sox officially added five more non-roster invitees to spring training on Tuesday, including shortstop Jeter Downs and catcher Connor Wong, who were acquired from the Dodgers in the Betts/Price trade.