Yardbarker: Milton Bradley

A Brief Rundown on Rays Rumors; Reid Brignac, Yorvit Torrealba, Carl Crawford, and Milton Bradley

Sun, 29 Nov 2009 12:29:20 -0500

Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-...

Weekend Update ... More on Movin' Milton and Other Cubs Rumors

Sun, 29 Nov 2009 01:05:00 -0500

It is the last Sunday in November and Milton Bradley is still on the Cubs' roster. Several of the 'experts' and most of the talking heads figured Jim Hendry would have traded Bradley away by now ... but the process of dealing Bradley is not an easy one. Expect the rumors to heat up across the league and especially surrounding the Chicago Cubs. There are only eight days remaining until the Winter Meetings and many think the Cubs will do more wheelin' and dealin' than ope...

Outfield Bat on the Cubs Shopping List

Sat, 28 Nov 2009 01:05:00 -0500

It has not been a secret that the Cubs would like to add an outfielder this winter. First line of business is when, where and how much it will cost the Cubs to trade Milton Bradley. The Cubs would like to move Kosuke Fukudome back to right field, where he is an above average defender then add a centerfielder to the mix ... that can drive in runs. A report from FoxSports.com on Friday mentioned a few of the names that have been bantered around for the last six weeks and drove home the fact ...

Any Deals for Jim Hendry on Black Friday?

Fri, 27 Nov 2009 01:05:00 -0500

On the day after Thanksgiving, will Jim Hendry make any progress on "Movin' Milton"? Reports before the holiday indicated the Cubs remain focused on unloading Milton Bradley, which could clear a little necessary room on the payroll. Rumors have suggested the Cubs' payroll for 2010 will be anywhere from $140 million to $150 million. With all of the high-priced contracts (that includes multiple no-trade clauses) and arbitration eligible players, if the rumors are correct that ...

Chicago Cubs: Looking Forward to 2010 ... The Reserves and Rumored Additions

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 02:00:00 -0500

Monday it was the Starting Eight. Tuesday it was Lou Piniella's Pitching Staff and the third and final part on the CCO's look at the early projections for 2010 ... The Reserves and Rumored Additions. The Cubs' off-season appears to be centered on where (and when) Jim Hendry will trade Milton Bradley ... as well as how much of the remaining two years and more than $21 million the Cubs will have to send to his new team. Tampa remains the most likely destination for Pat Burrell...

Where I’d Like To See Milton Bradley In 2010

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 08:00:10 -0500

I had an uncomfortable experience over the Twitter the other night… A Cubs fan asked ME where I thought Milton Bradley would end up next season. I actually don’t know which part was more uncomfortable: interacting with a Cubs fan, or being asked a speculative baseball question usually reserved for the Peter Gammons’ and Ken Rosenthal’s of the world. *Cringe* I kid Cubs fans… it was definitely the latter. Anywho… I responded with my honest to goodness gut feeling. I’m not putting any stock in any Bradley rumors we’ve heard so far. None of them have made sense for the teams potentially acquiring Bradley, so I’m dismissing those for the time being. I don’t think we’ll get a clear picture of this situation until free agency plays...

Cubs Rumor Round-Up: Halladay, Bradley

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:46:17 -0500

- Muskat blogged that the Blue Jays contacted the Cubs about Roy Halladay.

...there's a catch. He's owed $15.75 million in 2010, and the Blue Jays want some of the Cubs' top prospects. No. 1, the team can't take on Halladay's salary. The Blue Jays apparently have a wish list and Milton Bradley is not on it. A player like highly regarded shortstop Starlin Castro most likely is, and the Cubs don't want to part with him, especially since they might only have Halladay for one year.

A good time to show your committment to winning Ricketts family - we're all counting on you.

- Phil Rogers tried to sell a 3-way trade of Luis Castillo to the Cubs, Kevin Millwood to the Mets and Milton Bradley to the Rangers. It seemed to be quickly shot down though by the Cubs and Rangers.

- Carlos Marmol claimed the Cubs were pursuing Pedro Martinez, but the Cubs shot down that as well.

- John Grabow's deal is official, 2/7.5M although not sure if it's evenly split. A report from Bruce Levine said it would go up by a million in the second year, so that makes it $3.25M in 2010 and $4.25M in 2011. Also should note that Grabow's been dealing with bone chips as well for the last three years, I'm sure that won't bite the Cubs in the ass.

- Last day to enter the TCR Free Agent Frenzy contest, I'll shut it down sometime this weekend.

A Free Agency's Eve Update on Milton Bradley

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 13:22:13 -0500

More photos » by Charles Rex Arbogast - AP A re-enactment of the Cubs/Rays talks on Milton Bradley-for-Pat Burrell. Browse more photos » BNightengale: #mlb The Tampa Bay #Rays have become the clear-cut favorite to acquire Milton Bradley Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-n...

Millwood or Burrell for Bradley ... or None of the Above for the Cubs

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 01:10:00 -0500

Zack Grienke became the first Kansas City Royal since Brett Saberhagen in 1985 to win the AL Cy Young award on Tuesday. The NL and AL Managers of the Year will be announced on Wednesday. In between the debate and the rumors surrounding Curtis Granderson there is Milton Bradley. By all accounts Milton Bradley's time with the Cubs is over but Jim Hendry must find a way out of the more than $21 million owed to Bradley over the next two years. Most feel Bradley will be dealt to either the...

Movin' Milton ... and Other Cubs Rumors

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 01:04:42 -0500

On this Veteran's Day, the CCO would like to thank all of those that have served our Country. The GM Meetings conclude at noon on Wednesday ... and there were more rumors to come out of the O'Hare Hilton on Tuesday. The phrase that pays so far this winter for the Chicago Cubs is "bounce back." As the GM Meetings wind down, Jim Hendry reiterated the fact they are looking for several players to "bounce back" next season and perform the way the Cubs' GM thou...

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.

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...

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 ...