Yardbarker: Milton Bradley

How much interest is there in Milton Bradley?

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 15:32:21 -0500

It appears as though the Rangers have more than just a passing interest in bringing back Milton Bradley. The Rangers and Cubs talked Monday about a trade for the outfielder, who has fallen out of favor in Chicago after some late-season comments got him suspended for the rest of the year. The Rangers like what Bradley did offensively in 2008, but they don't like the contract that will pay him $20 million over the next two years. Any chance of Bradley playing in Arlington again hinges on h...

Cubs Being Stupid Update

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 11:41:15 -0500

Bradley’s big contract a barrier—9:58 a.m. The Rays remain interested in Cubs outfielder Milton Bradley, but his contract might be too big an impediment to a trade. Bradley, 30, not only is guaranteed $21 million over the next two seasons, but also can earn an additional $1 million each year by making 575 plate appearances. Granted, Bradley has reached that total only once in his injury-marred career—in 2004 with the Dodgers. But the Rays, by using Bradley as their desi...

How does Luis Castillo grab ya?

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 11:13:44 -0500

For a few hours last night, Cub fans may have felt our long national nightmare was soon to end, based on hot rumors of a three-way trade with the Mets and Jays that would plop Don't Wake Daddy in Canada, and return us Luis Castillo. But last night, Toronto (wisely?) quashed this rumour as they spell it there. They don't want any part of the Milton Bradley Experience, even if it means they get to crawl out from the bottom of The Lyle Overpay Contract. They'd tak...

All Roads (and Trade Rumors) Lead to Chicago

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 01:05:00 -0500

The GM Meetings began on Monday with a flurry of rumors ... and little to no action as predicted. The GMs spent Monday night at dinner and in private one-on-one meetings. Tuesday will be filled with talks centering around the game and instant replay at the O'Hare Hilton ... the annual gathering concludes around noon on Wednesday. So with the 36-hour window it is likely there will be more rumblings than actual activity. The games might be over for the winter, but baseball's busy sea...

Rosenthal : Mets/Cubs/Jays Discuss Swap Of Onerous Contracts

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 23:13:04 -0500

While the Cubs’ hopes of sending Milton Bradley to Toronto have been noted previously, Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal today claims such a move, however unlikely, would involve Luis Castillo going to Wrigley and underachieving OF Lyle Overbay becoming a member of the New York Mets. The three-team possibility, according to one source, has “some legs, but [...]

First rumor already squashed...

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 22:23:00 -0500

Well that was quick, as fast as the rumor came out it seems like it was dispelled. Apparently the Jays want no part of Milton Bradley while it sounds like the Cubs are interested in Castillo and the Mets seem interested in Overbay...Toronto reportedly wants no part of Bradley, despite a rumor on foxsports.com of a three-way deal in which the Cubs acquired Mets second baseman Luis Castillo for Bradley. New York would then send Bradley to Toronto for Lyle Overbay. source Chicago tribune

Cubs GM Jim Hendry says Milton Bradley may be back in 2010, and called the outfielder's '09 season a "major hiccup"

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 22:22:46 -0500

Cubs GM Jim Hendry says Milton Bradley may be back in 2010, and called the outfielder's '09 season a "major hiccup" Via Twitter from Carrie Muskat

Bradley to Blue Jays ... Cubs End up with Castillo?

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 20:08:19 -0500

According to a report by Ken Rosenthal, the Cubs have discussed framework for a deal with the Blue Jays and Mets involving Milton Bradley. In a scenario described as a "longshot" by Rosenthal, the Mets would receive Lyle Overbay from the Blue Jays, Bradley would end up in Toronto and Luis Castillo would be in end up in Chicago for the next two seasons.

Williams Wants Bradley

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 19:41:37 -0500

Cubs Hall of Famer Billy Williams wants the Cubs to keep Milton Bradley: “I talked to him many times. I really, really wanted him to get through last year. I wanted him to get to know what being a Cub is all about,” said Williams, 71. “I remember going into the clubhouse one particular day, and [...]

Cubs Rumor Round-Up: Bradley 3-Way, Chapman & More

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 19:28:23 -0500

All Milton, all the time...

- Foxsports's rumor mongering robot Robothal is hearing talks about a 3-way trade of Milton Bradley to the Blue Jays, Lyle Overbay to the Mets and Luis Castillo to the Cubs.

The three-team possibility, according to one source, has "some legs, but not much." The Jays are opposed to the deal, one source says — perhaps because new GM Alex Anthopolous does not want a trade for Bradley to be his first major move.

Castillo is owed $6M each of the next two seasons, will be 34 next year has piss-poor UZR and Rate2 numbers the last few seasons and was the proud owner of a .337 wOBA(barely above average) last season thanks mostly to a .342 BABIP which isn't something he's shown he can repeat too often. So that's exciting...

But if the Cubs can indeed move the $21M owed Bradley for the $12M owed Castillo, well that becomes a no-brainer for the Cubs. Chances are they'll have to throw some cash which spins me right back to the not so exciting camp.

The same article says the Rays have been the heaviest pursuers of Bradley mentioning Pat Burrell again. Their salaries even out in 2010 according to Robothal, but Rays want Cubs to pay most of 2011 to relieve them of their headache.

- Bruce Levine chimed in earlier saying the Cubs have talked with Mets, Blue Jays, Rangers, Rays and Angels about Bradley. Levine reiterates that Rich Harden and Kevin Gregg are as good as gone, Cubs would like to resign John Grabow and Reed Johnson could be welcome back if he accepts a one year deal. He says the Cubs priorities are bullpen help, a leadoff hitter, center field and a veteran middle infielder...like Luis Castillo for example.

- Bruce Miles talked to Carlos Zambrano's agent and said he hasn't been approached about waving any no-trade clauses and thinks it's a "non-story". Talk with Hendry included glowing praise of Starlin Castro and that a deal for Bradley isn't close.

- For what it's worth, which isn't much...Billy Williams would like to salvage the Milton Bradley situation in Chicago.

- Finally, the Cubs did inquire about the Cuban lefty fireballer Aroldis Chapman, but "seem to be going in other, cheaper directions"

Otherwise, be sure you don't miss Arizona Phil's Top 15 prospect list for something with some substance over this rumor mongering.

Bradley Being Discussed In Three-Way Deal

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:55:46 -0500

A very interesting idea is being reported by Ken Rosenthal: a three-way deal, with Milton Bradley going to the Blue Jays, Luis Castillo to the Cubs, and Lyle Overbay to the Mets. Rosenthal said "The teams indeed have discussed the framework of such a deal, though not in direct fashion, according to major-league sources." Breaking it down, the trade makes the most sense for the Mets, who would clear second base for long-coveted Orlando Hudson, a free agent. Overbay has also mashed r...

Could the Cubs really be this stupid?

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:38:43 -0500

Ken Rosenthal says it’s still a longshot, but the Cubs are discussing a potential 3-team trade that would send Milton Bradley to the Blue Jays, Lyle Overbay to the Mets and Luis Castillo to the Cubs. This has to be a ******* joke. Luis Castillo isn’t even as good as a platoon of Fontenot and Baker. I’m not even going to get into how unfair a trade it is to send Bradley away and get only Luis Castillo in return. Earlier we were wondering what the Blue Jays might give ...

Sources: Bradley being discussed in 3-way deal

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:15:06 -0500

The idea, while described as a longshot, is at least one way for the Cubs to trade outfielder Milton Bradley.

Weekend Update ... Bradley to Toronto Denied

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 00:39:19 -0500

With the Ricketts Family finally taking control of the Chicago Cubs last week, "Movin' Milton" gained a lot of momentum on Saturday. As first reported by Bruce Levine last Tuesday, the Cubs and Toronto have had discussions about possible trades ... and according to Levine two of the names that have been discussed are Milton Bradley and Vernon Wells. A report on Saturday morning from the Toronto Sun indicated the Milton Bradley-for-Vernon Wells rumors "has legs" acco...

Milton Bradley: Destination Toronto?

Sat, 31 Oct 2009 10:26:48 -0500

More photos » by David Zalubowski - AP Browse more photos » The Toronto Sun reports this morning on a potential Milton Bradley for Vernon Wells swap: The Chicago Cubs would like to -- have to -- deal disgruntled outfielder Milton Bradley. And one player they are eyeing as a target destination is the Blue Jays, with centre fielder Vernon Wells going to the Cubs in return. "It's early on, but we think this ...