Boston Red Sox sign Jackie Bradley for $3.6 million

BOSTON, Jan. 13 (UPI) — Outfielder Jackie Bradley Jr. avoided arbitration Friday when he signed on for a one-year deal with the Boston Red Sox.

ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick reported that the deal is worth $3.6 million. He won’t be a free agent until 2020. Multiple sources have since confirmed the report. Bradley made $546,000 last season.

Bradley, 26, hit .267 with a career-high 26 home runs and 87 RBI in 156 games last season. The left-handed hitter also scored 94 runs for the Red Sox in 2016. Bradley watched his statistics increase in nearly every category during his 2016 All-Star season, raising his average .18 points and increasing his home run total by 16.

Bradley and his wife welcomed their first child, a daughter, in June.