"A former major-league general manager said Tuesday night there would have to be specific language in Milton Bradley's contract for his arrest on suspicion of making a felony threat to alter his deal.

Bradley was arrested Tuesday morning in Southern California after allegedly making a criminal threat against an unidentified woman. He was released on $50,000 bail late Tuesday afternoon and will have to appear in court on Feb. 8.

The Mariners owe Bradley $12 million this season, even though he is not expected to land a starting job in either left field or at designated hitter. That is for the final season of a three-year, $30 million contract Bradley signed with the Chicago Cubs before being traded to Seattle 13 months ago.

The former GM, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the language needed to convert contracts from "guaranteed" to "non-guaranteed" is very specific.

"It depends on the guarantee language," he said. "If the guarantee language includes a felony conviction, it allows the contract to be converted to a non-guaranteed form if that player is convicted of a felony."

The Mariners, citing club policy, declined to comment on Bradley's contract status.

Mariners GM Jack Zduriencik, in a release from the team Tuesday night, said he'd reached Bradley's representatives and confirmed his arrest and release on bail.

"While we do not yet have full details on what occurred, we are aware of the situation and take it very seriously," Zduriencik said. "We are in the process of determining the full circumstances of what occurred. Until we have more information, we will not be able to comment further.""