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The Boston Red Sox released Jackie Bradley Jr. outright on Thursday.

Bradley is now a free agent and can sign for the prorated league minimum. The Red Sox are on the hook for the remainder of his contract.

Early reports Thursday said the Red Sox planned to designate Bradley for assignment, giving them a week to find a trade.

The decision clears room on the roster for newly acquired first baseman Eric Hosmer. Bradley, in his second stint in Boston, has played nine of his 10 seasons with the Red Sox.

Bradley, 32, is batting .210 with three home runs and 29 RBIs in 91 games this season. The Red Sox reacquired him from Milwaukee in the December trade that sent outfielder Hunter Renfroe to the Brewers.

Bradley is a career .228 hitter with 107 homers and 69 stolen bases. He made the American League All-Star team in 2016 and was a Gold Glove winner in 2018. He was the ALCS MVP for the Red Sox in 2018, when he hit two homers and drove in nine runs against the Houston Astros.

Bradley got squeezed out of an outfield slot with the emergence of Jarren Duran and the acquisition of Tommy Pham at the trade deadline. Enrique Hernandez is also nearing a return from the injured list.

–Field Level Media