11-10-2009, 08:13 PM
Cubs trying hard to trade Bradley
<!--quoteo-->QUOTE <!--quotec-->CHICAGO -- The Cubs are trying hard to dump the perennially malcontented Milton Bradley here at the GM meetings, as it isn't just manager Lou Piniella who didn't connect with him in his season here. Apparently, several key members of the team -- including Aramis Ramirez and Carlos Zambrano -- barely speak to Bradley.
"I don't think they dislike him. But Milton's a unique guy who doesn't fit in, like the oddball kid in class,'' one Cubs-connected person said.
"He doesn't try to fit in. The other guys tried to take him in, but he's one of those kids that simply doesn't want to be part of anything,'' one Cubs person said.
The Chicago Tribune reported that a Bradley blowup with now-deposed hitting coach Von Joshua preceded his two-week, end-of-the-year suspension, a fitting end to a dreadful year. So if anyone on the Cubs is suggesting that they might keep him, they're kidding themselves.
"They're going to get rid of him,'' one NL exec said. "No way he can go back.''
The question is: Who'll take him?
The prime candidates could be the Rangers and Rays, though the Giants are mentioned as a possibility, as well. Bradley thrived his one year in Texas, when he got along with manager Ron Washington and only one major blowup occurred. Giants manager Bruce Bochy is said to feel better than most about Bradley, as well.
"[Bradley] needs to go to some place small, like Kansas City or San Diego,'' one GM said.
The Rangers, who seek a right-handed hitter and are the most obvious team to have had a positive experience with Bradley, would probably take the 31-year-old outfielder if the Cubs paid a vast majority of the $21 million remaining on his crazy contract. Texas appeared willing to give Bradley $6 million for one year last winter, but if they are would pay $5 million for two now, that would mean the Cubs would only have to eat $16 million of the $21 million.
The Cubs are looking at other teams that have players with similarly bad contracts, such as the Rays (Pat Burrell), Giants (Aaron Rowand), Angels (Gary Matthews Jr. -- though Chicago appears not to have interest in Sarge's son), Royals (Jose Guillen) and Mets (Luis Castillo). If the Cubs took Burrell, though, "We'd have to trade him,'' one Cubs person said, pointing out that Burrell is a DH at this point.
While the Mets need an outfielder, one Mets person wisely said they could never take Bradley in New York.
One rumor had Bradley being talked about in a three-way deal with Castillo and Toronto's Lyle Overbay. But that sounds like a Cubs daydream, as the Jays are said to have no interest in Bradley. Beyond that, it's hard enough to deal Bradley in a two-team deal, much less one that involves three
Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writ...l#ixzz0WVNdjlML
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<!--quoteo-->QUOTE <!--quotec-->CHICAGO -- The Cubs are trying hard to dump the perennially malcontented Milton Bradley here at the GM meetings, as it isn't just manager Lou Piniella who didn't connect with him in his season here. Apparently, several key members of the team -- including Aramis Ramirez and Carlos Zambrano -- barely speak to Bradley.
"I don't think they dislike him. But Milton's a unique guy who doesn't fit in, like the oddball kid in class,'' one Cubs-connected person said.
"He doesn't try to fit in. The other guys tried to take him in, but he's one of those kids that simply doesn't want to be part of anything,'' one Cubs person said.
The Chicago Tribune reported that a Bradley blowup with now-deposed hitting coach Von Joshua preceded his two-week, end-of-the-year suspension, a fitting end to a dreadful year. So if anyone on the Cubs is suggesting that they might keep him, they're kidding themselves.
"They're going to get rid of him,'' one NL exec said. "No way he can go back.''
The question is: Who'll take him?
The prime candidates could be the Rangers and Rays, though the Giants are mentioned as a possibility, as well. Bradley thrived his one year in Texas, when he got along with manager Ron Washington and only one major blowup occurred. Giants manager Bruce Bochy is said to feel better than most about Bradley, as well.
"[Bradley] needs to go to some place small, like Kansas City or San Diego,'' one GM said.
The Rangers, who seek a right-handed hitter and are the most obvious team to have had a positive experience with Bradley, would probably take the 31-year-old outfielder if the Cubs paid a vast majority of the $21 million remaining on his crazy contract. Texas appeared willing to give Bradley $6 million for one year last winter, but if they are would pay $5 million for two now, that would mean the Cubs would only have to eat $16 million of the $21 million.
The Cubs are looking at other teams that have players with similarly bad contracts, such as the Rays (Pat Burrell), Giants (Aaron Rowand), Angels (Gary Matthews Jr. -- though Chicago appears not to have interest in Sarge's son), Royals (Jose Guillen) and Mets (Luis Castillo). If the Cubs took Burrell, though, "We'd have to trade him,'' one Cubs person said, pointing out that Burrell is a DH at this point.
While the Mets need an outfielder, one Mets person wisely said they could never take Bradley in New York.
One rumor had Bradley being talked about in a three-way deal with Castillo and Toronto's Lyle Overbay. But that sounds like a Cubs daydream, as the Jays are said to have no interest in Bradley. Beyond that, it's hard enough to deal Bradley in a two-team deal, much less one that involves three
Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writ...l#ixzz0WVNdjlML
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