Milton Bradley News: Pro Sports Daily

Milton Bradley: Look In The Mirror, Just Look In The Mirror

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March 12

Seattle Post-Intelligencer

columnist Ryne E. Hancock

"As an African-American, I know that racism is still alive. I know this. But while I could go on and on about the injustices of this world from my point of view as an African-American, I will say this: Regardless of what color you are, if you play like horse manure, you deserve to get booed. Period. On Wednesday morning at my office, I watched the ESPN interview with Milton Bradley, which was more like watching college softball with the really gorgeous-looking players. According to Bradley, he said that Chicago is a tough place to play in if you're African-American. That's the same crap that Latroy Hawkins said six years ago, despite the fact that Hawkins that year in Chicago had nine blown ..."

Bradley clams up in Mariners clubhouse

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March 11

Chicago Tribune

columnist Phil Rogers

"Hello, good-bye. Another uniform, another year. The Milton Bradley over North America tour continues, its latest stop in the Pacific Northwest, underwritten by his former associates in the Midwest. For a few uncomfortable hours Wednesday, with Bradley in the news over renewed cries of racism and general mistreatment in Chicago, the storyline played out with familiar awkwardness. As Bradley was taking the field for the Mariners, an upwardly mobile team run by Don Wakamatsu, a second-year manager who says Bradley "has a chance to impact our lineup," Michael Young and others who played alongside Bradley in 2008 were declining to discuss Bradley. Ron Washington, the Texas manager who remains ..."

Hendry lashes out at former Cub Bradley

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March 10

ESPN.com

"Chicago Cubs general manager Jim Hendry said Wednesday it's time for Milton Bradley to look in the mirror and accept responsibility for his unsuccessful season in Chicago last year. Hendry, manager Lou Piniella and some Cubs players responded to an interview Bradley did with ESPN's Colleen Dominguez on Tuesday. During the interview, Bradley described the atmosphere in Chicago as so negative that he felt like a prisoner in his own home because he didn't want to venture out. Bradley talked about the difficulties he perceived for African-American players in Chicago, unless they were the caliber of Ernie Banks or Andre Dawson. Bradley also talked about receiving hate mail with no postage mark, ..."

Milton Bradley does it again, and so does Bob Feller Milton Bradley does it again, and so does Bob Feller

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March 7

Cleveland Plain Dealer

columnist Bud Shaw

"The surest signs of spring aren't the swallows to Capistrano or the buzzards returning to Hinckley Reservation. • It's Milton Bradley establishing a new cuckoo's nest. The former Cubs-Rangers-Padres-A's-Dodgers-Indians-Expos outfielder is now with the Seattle Mariners. Lest anyone get the wrong idea that he didn't live up to his end during his one season in Chicago, Bradley set that record straight in detailing why the relationship went bad with the Cubs. It wasn't him, OK? It was them. "Two years ago, I played, and I was good," Bradley told the New York Times. "I go to Chicago, not good. I've been good my whole career. So, obviously, it was something with Chicago, not me." Now, ..."

Even Rick Rizzs may have a hard time explaining Milton Bradley

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March 5

Seattle Post-Intelligencer

"Everyone's excited about the Mariners this year, especially now that spring training games are under way. It's an annual ritual in which we all turn into little kids and act warm and fuzzy about the return of baseball. I admit to getting caught up in that, refraining from the use of the word "steroids" and any mention of Milton Bradley in anything but a wonderful light -- for a few more paragraphs at least. I listened to part of the first broadcast from Peoria, Ariz., on Wednesday and enjoyed hearing Dave Niehaus and Rick Rizzs along with the sound of "ice cold beer!" from a vendor at the park. It makes me think of nights that I will spend this summer in Port Orchard listening to Mariners ..."

Milton Bradley: Blame Chicago, not me

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March 5

ESPN.com

"Milton Bradley said unrealistic expectations and poor communication, and not the player himself, were to blame for his struggles during his one season with the Chicago Cubs. In an interview with The New York Times, Bradley -- who was dealt in the offseason to the Seattle Mariners for pitcher Carlos Silva -- pointed to his career record to show what happened in Chicago. "Two years ago, I played, and I was good," Bradley told The Times. "I go to Chicago, not good. I've been good my whole career. So, obviously, it was something with Chicago, not me.""

For Bradley, those Chicago hits keep coming

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February 21

Seattle Post-Intelligencer

"In the Life Isn't Fair Department, file this: Milton Bradley hasn't even reported to camp yet, and Chicago writers have been here seeking reaction to the most recent criticism of the outfielder. Bradley, acquired in the trade of Carlos Silva, isn't due in until Monday - but may have Cubs writers waiting for him. In a short story by Paul Sullivan, Cubs analyst Ron Santo wasn't kind. "It was better when (general manager Jim Hendry) suspended him," Santo said. "It was obvious. "He was always kind of mad. "He wasn't a happy man. He'd walk right by you and not even look at you. Several times he'd walk by Lou (Piniella), and Lou would say something and he didn't say anything. But that's over ..."

Sans Bradley, Cubs appear to be much happier campers

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February 21

Daily Southtown

"Milton Bradley may not have the best reputation in the game for playing every day, but give him credit for lasting power. Two months after the Cubs shipped him out to the West Coast after a brief stop with the North Siders, the memory of Bradley lingers into the dawning of a new spring training - if only in the context of how much better the team chemistry is expected to be this year. "Oh, God, yeah," Cubs legendary third baseman and broadcaster Ron Santo said. "It was better when (general manager Jim Hendry) suspended him (at the end of last season). It was obvious. "I'm a very strong believer in chemistry," Santo said, "and there's nobody better than Lou Piniella when it comes to the ..."

Seattle all excited about Bradley

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February 21

Chicago Sun-Times

columnist Chris De Luca

"The hallway leading to the Mariners' clubhouse at the Peoria Sports Complex is decorated with framed posters featuring the team's treasured stars -- Ichiro Suzuki, Ken Griffey Jr., Milton Bradley. Milton Bradley? Yep, that's Bradley in the action shot next to Griffey's, taking a big swing and wearing a Mariners uniform. Clearly, the photo has been doctored, but you could believe Bradley has been a Mariner his whole career -- if you were willing to stretch your imagination. That's the mode the Mariners are in this spring training. They are the latest club fantasizing that they will tame Bradley's volatile personality. Remember, this is his eighth team in nine years. The Cubs were in the ..."

Bradley's word to Byrd: Enjoy what he failed to as Cub

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January 16

Daily Southtown

"It may not seem like the best place for the newest Cub to seek advice on making the transition to the North Side, but center fielder Marlon Byrd said he got invaluable counsel from old Texas teammate and good friend Milton Bradley. "Yeah, he said, 'Do what I didn't do and enjoy it,' " said Byrd, who made his unofficial Chicago debut Friday with the opening of the annual Cubs Convention at the Hilton Chicago. "The one big thing he regrets was not being able to enjoy Chicago. This is where he wanted to be, and he wishes it would have worked out better." Byrd, signed to a three-year, $15 million deal last month, seems more prepared, if not ready, to handle the intensity that comes with Cub ..."

Chicago landlord suing former Cub Milton Bradley

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January 16

Chicago Tribune

"Former Cubs outfielder Milton Bradley was sued Friday for ditching his Gold Coast apartment while still owing about $44,000 on the one-year lease. Bradley was signed to a $30-million, three-year deal last off-season. He was traded to the Seattle Mariners last month after being suspended the final 15 games of the season by the Cubs. The suit, filed in Cook County Circuit Court, said Bradley "abandoned" his 24th-floor condominium at the Park Hyatt Chicago at 800 N. Michigan Avenue on Oct. 12. He agreed to pay up to $15,000-a-month- rent when he signed a one-year lease in March, the suit said. The suit alleged he owed $44,100 in rent, late fees and interest."

Big Z on Bradley: 'Sometimes a little strange'

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January 15

Chicago Tribune

"Cubs pitcher Carlos Zambrano says controversial outfielder Milton Bradley wasn't a clubhouse problem last season for the Cubs, but should have been more careful in his dealings with the media. Speaking Thursday on "The Waddle & Silvy Show" on WMVP-AM 1000, Zambrano defended Bradley, who was traded to Seattle last month for pitcher Carlos Silva. "For me, he was good in the clubhouse," Zambrano said. "He was a little moody ... sometimes a little strange, but he was good"

Carlos Silva For Milton Bradley: We All Lose

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December 19

Seattle Post-Intelligencer

columnist Casey Greer

"When it comes to the Mariners and Cubs, I'm fairly split in terms of my opinions. I'm a fan of each team, and it's hard for me to distinguish my fandom. The two teams have played only six games against each other outside of spring training, so there hasn't been a lot of reason to root for one over the other. Actually, the Cubs and Seattle hold some history together, as Lou Piniella managed the Mariners for several years, and Ryne Sandberg, the Cubs' Hall-of-Fame second baseman grew up in Spokane, Washington. Then the teams swapped two awful contracts, and somehow, I think both teams lost. Carlos Silva is a pitcher whose repertoire lends itself to the belief that as a pitch-to-contact, ..."

Mariners Obtain Milton Bradley From Cubs For Carlos Silva

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December 19

Seattle Post-Intelligencer

"The Seattle Mariners are doing what they can to field a contending team. After an 85-77, third place finish in the American League West last season, they created instant support by acquiring southpaw pitcher Cliff Lee from the Philadelphia Phillies. Lee will join a pitching staff that is currently anchored by Felix Hernandez. To show their commitment to the rest of the league, they sent pitcher Carlos Silva to the Chicago Cubs in exchange for troubled outfielder Milton Bradley. Silva, by far was the most expensive man on the Mariner pitching staff, pulling down $12,000,000 this past season. In two seasons with Seattle Silva had a record of 5-18 with an ERA of 6.81 Bradley has had a ..."

Unrepentant Bradley ready to turn negative into positive

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December 19

Chicago Sun-Times

"After more than three months out of the public eye to reflect on his short, lucrative career as a Cub, Milton Bradley seemed no less bitter or irritable as he shipped out for Seattle after being traded Friday. Speaking in the same lowered, tense voice that signaled some of his more infamous Chicago interviews last summer, Bradley was unrepentant about his failings on the North Side during a conference call with reporters that included his first public comments since the Cubs suspended him for the final 15 games of the season. He talked about a fresh start -- his fifth in as many seasons -- and of moving on from Chicago. But despite saying he had ''no statement [to make] about Chicago,'' he ..."

Good riddance: Milton Bradley traded to Seattle

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December 19

Chicago Sun-Times

"What else you got? Milton Bradley finally gets a chance to show an eighth team it's something different than he brought to his first seven when he takes that tired line and the rest of the baggage he has been lugging around the majors for a decade to the Seattle Mariners after the Cubs sent him packing Friday. A Cubs offseason bogged down by efforts to get rid of what turned out to be the worst free-agent contract of the last two years finally took flight Friday, when the Cubs got the Mariners to include $9 million in the Bradley-for-Carlos Silva trade. Cubs general manager Jim Hendry, who took the blame for what went wrong with Bradley after signing him to a three-year, $30 million deal, ..."

Cubs dump Milton Bradley

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December 19

Chicago Tribune

"After painting himself into a corner in September when he suspended Milton Bradley for the final 15 games of the season, Jim Hendry finally came up with an exit strategy. The Cubs general manager sent the disgruntled outfielder to the Mariners on Friday for underachieving right-hander Carlos Silva and $9 million, coming away with $6 million after the two contracts are offset. Considering the Rays were asking the Cubs to take their albatross, Pat Burrell, and pay the Rays around $10 million, the Seattle deal was about as good as Hendry could have gotten, despite Silva's alarmingly poor statistics. "There wasn't an easy solution to it by any means," Hendry said. "Many of the names that were ..."

Milton Bradley traded to Seattle for Carlos Silva

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December 18

Chicago Tribune

"The Cubs have finally found a taker for Milton Bradley in the Seattle Mariners. Bradley was dealt Friday for pitcher Carlos Silva, who is owed a minimum of $25 million over the next two years, and cash. Bradley is owed $21 million for the next two years. Silva has been a disappointment after signing with the Mariners after the 2007 season. He was 4-15 in 28 starts in 2008 and 1-3 in only eight games last year while spending most of the season on the disabled list with a shoulder impingement."

Carlos Silva for Milton Bradley is going down

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December 18

Seattle Times

"Last week at the winter meetings, the Chicago Cubs and Mariners discussed a possible Carlos Silva for Milton Bradley swap. "Not happening,'' a top Mariners official said afterwards. Well, it is happening now. The Cubs have agreed to send Bradley to Seattle for Silva, as first posted by colleague Larry Stone. Silva had damage to his rotator cuff and labrum last season and hasn't really pitched since May, other than a couple of relief efforts. But the Cubs are willing to take that chance."

3 teams interested, but Bradley deal not close

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December 18

Foxsports.com

"At least three teams remain interested in Cubs outfielder Milton Bradley — the Rays, Rangers and Mariners. However, no trade is close, according to major-league sources. The Rays and Cubs have been at an impasse for weeks, with neither side willing to budge on the terms of a proposed Bradley-for-Pat Burrell exchange. The Rangers, one source said, remain a "longshot" for Bradley, who would fit well in their lineup, but did not leave on the best of terms after the 2007 season."

Bradley saga shouldn't hamper Hendry

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December 13

Chicago Sun-Times

"The good news for the Cubs is they know Milton Bradley won't be around to muck up the 2010 season like he did the last one. The winter meetings this past week may not have changed much of the Bradley landscape, but they clarified the trade market for the good-hit, bad-head outfielder -- which is to say, it ain't much, but a few teams will take him if the Cubs take enough bad contract in return or pick up enough of the $22 million he's owed. The bad news, of course, is that they still have Bradley on the roster after believing early in the week they would be leaving the winter meetings without him. So just how hard is the Bradley saga making general manager Jim Hendry's job of improving his ..."

Bradley salary albatross for Chicago Cubs

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December 12

Chicago Tribune

"After an excruciating loss in Los Angeles over the summer, manager Lou Piniella summed up the 2009 season in two sentences. "It's painful watching this," Piniella said. "It really is." The same could be said for this offseason, as the Cubs attempt to find a taker for Milton Bradley. The Rays, their most likely trading partner, refuse to budge, hoping to force the Cubs to pay the bulk of Bradley's $13 million salary in 2010. And when the Rays acquired closer Rafael Soriano and his $7.25 million salary Friday from the Braves, executive vice president Andrew Friedman suggested they were done spending. "Our focus is on continuing to try to make this 2010 team better," he told the St. ..."

Rays are right to wait on Milton Bradley

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December 10

St. Petersburg Times

columnist John Romano

"The cost of a shortstop is pretty easy to figure out. You start with Derek Jeter and work your way down the value scale. The same is true at third base and centerfield and pretty much any position on the field. The value of most any ballplayer can be determined fairly easily by checking comparables at the same position. Except, it seems, when it comes to Milton Bradley. Apparently, there is a scarcity of switch-hitting pariahs. And it looks like very few teams want to spend much money on baseball's most infamous example. Which goes a long way toward explaining why the Cubs walked the lobby of baseball's winter meetings in Indianapolis with Milton's hat in hand. They tried to drum up ..."

Dumping Milton Bradley proving difficult

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December 10

Chicago Tribune

"At the rate things are going this winter, the Cubs soon may be asking the government for a Milton Bradley bailout. Any movement toward a deal dissipated at the winter meetings Wednesday, apparently leaving the Cubs where they started when the off-season began. One reporter facetiously asked Hendry about rumors "new clubs (were) being added in, new leagues -- one from the Negro League is in there now." Hendry didn't laugh and said he hasn't paid attention to the rumors. The Cubs don't want to turn the Bradley situation into a farce, but until they pull the trigger on a deal, no one will know for sure whether there is any serious interest at all in the outfielder. One team official said he ..."

Chicago White Sox GM sticks up for Milton Bradley

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December 10

Chicago Tribune

"While the Cubs are having a tough time unloading the last two years of Milton Bradley's contract on anyone, White Sox general manager Ken Williams stepped in with kind words to help repair Bradley's reputation. Asked whether he could see any way Bradley would play for his team, Williams replied: "I've had the pleasure of talking to Milton in the past. It saddens me, to a great extent, some of the situations he has been put in or put himself in. ... This guy can play. "I don't know that I see a fit for us and I probably shouldn't even be talking about him because he's not our player. ... He's really a more thoughtful person, a better person, than has been portrayed or he has shown." ..."

Cubs would be open to Lowell for Bradley

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December 9

ESPN.com

"From Buster Olney: If Red Sox wanted to pursue deal of Mike Lowell, who is owed $12 million, for Milton Bradley that is something the Cubs would be open to. It's unlikely to happen."

Cubs may be close to Bradley deal

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December 9

MLB.com

"The Cubs may be close to finding Milton Bradley a new home. There were reports Tuesday that the Cubs have found another American League team -- not the Tampa Bay Rays or Texas Rangers -- which is interested in the volatile outfielder. Chicago general manager Jim Hendry has been tight-lipped about the negotiations to the point that he is keeping the majority of his staff out of the talks. Hendry did meet late Monday with Bradley's agents, Seth and Sam Levinson, at the Indianapolis Marriott. A team official said there would be no announcement Tuesday, but another said there was a possibility they could finalize a deal on Wednesday at the Winter Meetings. One report said the Cubs were ..."

Milton Bradley to the Mariners: Not gonna happen

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December 9

Seattle Times

"Old buddy Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun Times caused a bit of a stir with his Tweet that the Cubs are on the verge of trading Milton Bradley to "a surprise American League team." That ruled out the Rays and the Rangers, the two teams to whom Bradley has been linked, and opened up speculation of a Bradley-for-Carlos Silva swap -- an "our expensive problem for your expensive problem" proposition. Nice thought, but an impeccable source told me the Mariners don't have interest in Bradley and his baggage."

Cubs reportedly close to trading Milton Bradley, but not to Tampa Bay Rays

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December 9

St. Petersburg Times

"Could the long Milton Bradley saga be coming to an end? Several Chicago media outlets reported Tuesday night the Cubs were close to a deal with a team that wasn't the Rays (the Sun-Times identified it as a "surprise AL team), and it could be completed by today. Between the teams that don't need or wouldn't take the talented but troubled Bradley and those that indicated they weren't involved, there weren't many options left if the report was true. However, Seattle, Toronto and Kansas City would seem to be possibilities. The Rays' position hadn't changed as of Tuesday evening: They made clear to the Cubs under what terms they would do the deal (read: how much of the difference between ..."

Cubs getting close to unloading Milton

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December 9

Chicago Sun-Times

"The first day of the rest of the Cubs' lives without Milton Bradley appeared on the horizon Tuesday with multiple sources saying the Cubs were close to a deal to send Bradley to an unidentified American League team. One source said the two-team deal was ''three-quarters'' done by late in the day Tuesday and involved the Cubs receiving another heavy-contract player, who would then be flipped to a third team. The source would not reveal the ''surprise'' team but eliminated Tampa Bay and Texas as destination teams after weeks of that pair being linked to Bradley and the Cubs closer than any others. General manager Jim Hendry wouldn't talk specifically about the progress of Bradley talks but ..."

Chicago Cubs near tipping point on dumping Milton Bradley

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December 9

Chicago Tribune

"Mariners President Chuck Armstrong was riding up the elevator at the Indianapolis Marriott on Tuesday night when he was asked if his club was going to acquire Milton Bradley. "No," Armstrong replied. "I've been asked that three times the last hour. Why is everyone asking me that?" Down at the Starbucks in the hotel lobby, a Rangers official poked at a reporter standing in line and asked aloud: "Hey, how's that Milton Bradley trade going?" Two days into baseball's winter meetings, the Bradley situation has turned into a running joke, with team officials tripping over each other to deny any interest in the Cubs outfielder. In the age of Tweeting, blogging and Facebooking, the Bradley rumors ..."

Cubs' budget will be very clear after Bradley is dealt

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December 8

Foxsports.com

"One of these days, the Cubs will trade outfielder Milton Bradley. At that point, they will gain a better idea of what kind of replacement they can afford. Bradley is owed $21 million over the next two seasons. The Cubs recognize that they will need to include money to defray his salary. The question is how much. If the Cubs save a good amount, they can sign a free agent such as Mike Cameron. If they save a modest amount, Marlon Byrd might be a better fit. If they save a small amount, Scott Podsednik could be their choice. All depends upon the deal."

Jackson just the start of pitching deals

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December 8

Foxsports.com

"Edwin Jackson will not be the last starting pitcher traded. The Blue Jays are working three- and four-team scenarios involving Roy Halladay. The Braves are aggressively shopping Derek Lowe. The Rangers are actively discussing right-hander Kevin Millwood. Other available starting pitchers include the Reds' Aaron Harang and Bronson Arroyo, the Royals' Gil Meche, the Rangers' Brandon McCarthy and — only for the right price — the Pirates' Zach Duke and Paul Maholm. For a team such as the Angels, facing the potential loss of free-agent right-hander John Lackey, the options are plentiful. If the Jays' price for Halladay is too high, they can always turn to Lowe. The Orioles, pursuing Millwood, ..."

Discussions continue as Bradley remains

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December 8

MLB.com

"Asked to describe the first day of the Winter Meetings, Cubs general manager Jim Hendry said Monday was a normal day. "Nothing earth shattering," Hendry said. Which means Milton Bradley is still on the Cubs. Hendry and his staff continued discussions with teams interested in the switch-hitting outfielder as well as talked to clubs who may have a veteran right-handed reliever that fits the Cubs' needs. Seth Levinson, Bradley's agent, declined to comment about his client when approached by Chicago beat writers on Monday. The Cubs have encouraged teams interested in Bradley to talk to Levinson, but no team has done so. The most workable deal for the Cubs appears to be a one-for-one trade ..."

Lou Piniella says Milton Bradley would thrive in low-pressure market of Tampa Bay Rays

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December 8

St. Petersburg Times

"In Chicago, talented but troubled OF Milton Bradley had issues with teammates, fans, media and team management. A premise of the Rays' interest is that Bradley wouldn't have such issues playing in a less pressurized environment. And that theory received a strong endorsement Monday from none other than Cubs manager Lou Piniella, the Tampa native and resident who used to manage the Rays. "I would think that a different environment would help him immensely," he said. "And I think a place like Tampa Bay would be a place where he could flourish." The Cubs are trying to trade Bradley, given an expansive list of conflicts that makes his return to Chicago seem all but impossible. The Rays are ..."

Despite troubles, Bradley intrigues Rays' brass

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December 8

Tampa Tribune

"Milton Bradley was suspended for the final two weeks of the 2009 season, told to just go home by his employer, the Chicago Cubs. Bradley was suspended earlier last season by Major League Baseball for arguing with an umpire and told to go home in the middle of another game by his boss, Cubs manager Lou Piniella. He once charged a fan while playing for the A's. He once injured his knee while being restrained from arguing with an umpire. Why, given the way they value clubhouse cohesion, would the Rays be interested in such a player? Because at 31, Bradley is a better option at designated hitter than incumbent Pat Burrell, and because the Cubs are looking to move Bradley. And, because Rays ..."

Chicago Cubs remain confident a trade involving Milton Bradley will be consummated

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December 8

Chicago Tribune

"Cubs general manager Jim Hendry knew it wouldn't be easy trading Milton Bradley after handing him a 15-game suspension, but he made the disciplinary move in the best interests of the club. Now that crunch time has arrived, Hendry is finding it difficult to deal the mercurial outfielder unless the Cubs take on almost all of the remaining $21 million on his contract. The stalemate could go on for a while, though the Cubs remain confident a trade will be consummated before long. Sources outside the organization insist the best bet remains a deal with the Rays involving Pat Burrell, whom the Cubs would try to deal elsewhere, possibly to the Blue Jays for prospects. A three-way deal discussed ..."

Bradley-for-Burrell in works

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December 8

Chicago Sun-Times

"The New York Mets appear to hold the key to the Cubs trading Milton Bradley as quickly as this week, as part of a three-team deal that would land the outfielder with the Tampa Bay Rays -- still the clear front-runners to acquire Bradley. But a source familiar with the talks said Monday the more likely scenario is an eventual one-for-one swap of Bradley and Rays outfielder Pat Burrell. The possible three-way deal, which would have sent second baseman Luis Castillo to the Cubs, was raised more than a month ago and has remained one of several options heading into the winter meetings this week. But the Mets have balked at settling on Burrell as their left fielder with high-profile free agents ..."

Cubs talking to 4 teams about Bradley

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December 7

CBSSports.com

"The Cubs remain confident that they'll be able to trade Milton Bradley by the end of the winter meetings, with four teams now interested in the troublesome outfielder. Major-league sources said that two new teams have approached the Cubs about Bradley. The Rays and Rangers remain interested, although the Cubs have issues in dealing with either of those teams. The talks with Tampa Bay have gone on for much of the offseason, and the basics haven't changed. The two holdups are how much of Bradley's salary the Cubs would pay, and what the Cubs would do with Pat Burrell, who would be part of the deal. The Cubs regard Burrell as an American League player. The biggest issue with the Rangers is ..."

Rays, Rangers, Mets eyeing Bradley

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December 7

MLB.com

"Tampa Bay and Texas both appear to be interested in trading for outfielder Milton Bradley, but it may come down to how much money the Cubs are willing to pick up in order for general manager Jim Hendry to move him. Bradley had his best season with the Rangers in 2008, when he led the American League in on-base percentage, hit 22 homers and drove in 77 runs. A high-placed official said on Sunday that even though Bradley is the type of player the Rangers need in their lineup and they are familiar with him, they weren't sure they wanted to deal with that "headache" again and may be looking at him as a last resort. Texas is looking for some bullpen help, which the Cubs could provide in a ..."

Cubs and Royals meet to discuss a Milton Bradley-for-Gil Meche trade

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December 7

ESPN.com

"Chicago Cubs and Kansas City Royals personnel got together on Sunday night and had peripheral conversations about possible trade scenarios that could work for the two clubs. Milton Bradley would be the type of run producer Kansas City would be interested in, while Royals pitcher Gil Mesh is someone they would consider trading. K.C. is looking for a run-producing outfielder and Bradley could fit nicely with the small-market Royals."

Cubs have Ray of hope they can dump Bradley

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December 7

Chicago Sun-Times

"At least one manager who has never worked with Milton Bradley feels the me-first outfielder is a ''fit'' for his ballclub. And Joe Maddon's first impressions of Bradley when the two had lunch together last offseason are a big part of what makes his Tampa Bay Rays the front-runner to acquire Bradley this offseason -- maybe during the winter meetings that begin this week. The Cubs are trying to avoid another Sammy Sosa-like saga that played out until February after a split was proved necessary on the final day of the 2004 regular season. And their offseason plans depend on it. The next three days could be the most critical in the process -- with team officials optimistic a deal might get ..."

Rays need Cubs to swallow some of Bradley's contract if trade is to happen

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December 7

St. Petersburg Times

"Cubs officials showed up at the winter meetings Sunday "confident" they'll be able to trade talented but oft-troubled outfielder Milton Bradley. Rays officials arrive today and may get a sense of how serious they are. The Rays have some interest in bringing in Bradley, 31, in exchange for DH Pat Burrell, 33, but the finances of such a deal are a major issue, specifically a potential difference of $15 million due the players. Both make $9 million in 2010, but Bradley has a $13 million salary for 2011 plus can earn $2 million over the two seasons through incentives. So whether there is even a deal worth talking about likely will come down to how much the Cubs are willing to put toward that ..."

Dealing Bradley tops Cubs GM Jim Hendry's to-do list at winter meetings

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December 6

Chicago Tribune

"The official Milton Bradley send-off may or may not occur at this week's winter meetings in Indianapolis, but the champagne is definitely on ice. After unsuccessfully trying to acquire Jake Peavy from San Diego at last year's meetings in Las Vegas, Cubs general manager Jim Hendry figures to be a motivated seller this time as he attempts to dump the biggest headache of his professional career. Hendry declined to discuss Bradley's status specifically, though trading the $30 million malcontent is obviously Job No. 1. "We've certainly had enough time in the offseason to continue the process of evaluating where we can get a little better and where we can eliminate some of the negatives," Hendry ..."

Sources: Rays still frontrunner for Bradley

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December 6

Foxsports.com

(scroll down)

"The Rangers remain interested in re-acquiring Milton Bradley, but the Rays continue to be the front-runner for the Cubs outfielder, according to major-league sources. Bradley enjoyed his best season for the Rangers in 2008, leading the American League in OPS. Rangers manager Ron Washington wants him back, one source said. But Bradley's contact remains a significant obstacle for the Rangers, who are in the middle of an ownership transition. The Cubs are willing to pay down a portion of the $21 million remaining on Bradley's deal, but not enough to satisfy the Rangers, one source said. Money also is the stumbling block in the Rays' pursuit of Bradley."

Trade possibilities to be focus at Meetings

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December 2

MLB.com

"A year ago, Cubs general manager Jim Hendry spent the Winter Meetings trying to decide if Jake Peavy was worth trading for. A deal never happened: Hendry nixed the idea after a late night walk on the Las Vegas strip. Instead, the Cubs' biggest splash leading up to the 2009 season was signing switch-hitting outfielder Milton Bradley to a three-year, $30 million contract in January. On Monday, when baseball executives gather in Indianapolis for the Winter Meetings, there will be much less neon. The Cubs' goals have changed, too. Now, it's addition by subtraction, as Hendry tries to move Bradley. The 31-year-old is coming off a season in which he struggled to produce on the field, batting ..."

Rays, Cubs discussing Bradley/Burrell swap

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December 2

New York Post

"I hear that a trade of Tampa Bay's Pat Burrell for the Cubs' Milton Bradley is still a strong possibility. Burrell is due $9 million next year while Bradley has two years at $21 million left. Bradley also makes $9 million next year, so the sticking point is how much of the 2011 $12 million contract the Cubs are willing to absorb to complete a trade. My hunch is that the Cubs would have to eat at least half and make that a $6 million contract for the Rays in 2011. If the Cubs go through with this trade they are looking at two poor left fielders who both swing righty – Burrell and Alfonso Soriano – on the roster. So this is totally my speculation, but I wonder if the Cubs would then do a ..."

Large contracts limiting Cubs strategy

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November 20

Chicago Tribune

"The Cubs changed the course of franchise history three years ago Friday when they signed Alfonso Soriano to an eight-year, $136 million deal. With one move, the Cubs shocked the baseball world and proved they were willing to spend their considerable resources to win a World Series. It didn't work out as planned, however, and three years later new Chairman Tom Ricketts enters the scene with the same challenge as Tribune Co. and a decidedly new game plan of fiscal restraint. General manager Jim Hendry conceded Thursday that money was a factor in the decision to trade veteran reliever Aaron Heilman to the Diamondbacks for a pair of minor-league prospects. Heilman stood to earn around $2 ..."

Tampa Bay, Texas and Toronto look like destinations for Milton Bradley

Comment

November 19

ESPN.com

columnist Jayson Stark

"Tampa Bay, Texas and Toronto look like the three most feasible destinations for Milton Bradley these days. But the Cubs are telling teams that (A) they're not interested in digesting all or most of Bradley's money (two years, $21 million) just for the sake of moving him, and (B) the hiring of his old hitting coach, Rudy Jaramillo, means they no longer think they have to trade him. So they seem to be zeroing in on clubs that might be willing to swap one messy contract for another. Pat Burrell would be that guy in Tampa Bay, but the money doesn't match up and the Cubs would have to find a third team interested in Burrell. Lyle Overbay seems to fit that mold in Toronto, but the Cubs would ..."