"Milton Bradley returned to Chicago on Friday night as a member of the Mariners, interjecting a racial angle as a reason he was misunderstood as a member of the Cubs last season.

Near the end of a tumultuous season last year in which he clashed with manager Lou Piniella, who called him a "piece of (expletive)," Bradley was suspended with 15 games remaining. Before that Bradley had made disparaging remarks about the organization and got into a vocal altercation with hitting coach Von Joshua after refusing to pinch-hit in a game in St. Louis.

After general manager Jim Hendry told the team of the suspension, several players applauded after Hendry left the room, and Ryan Dempster told the media Bradley needed to "look in the mirror" instead of blaming others for his problems."