Milton Bradley Signs With Cubs

wow, looks like burrell really did affect this one...

Now if he can just keep his head on straight, and avoid tripping on sprinklers and the like. Great signing if he can stay healthy, even if they want to try him in RF.

I really don't like this one...Bradley can't handle too many games in RF. Splitting time with Fuku doesn't make too bad of a platoon I guess.

Bradley is an AL guy - that's my beef. I would have liked Abreu much better.

Milton finally got the respect he's been looking for. Will it keep him healthy?

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH.

3/30 for an injury prone Bradley, after Burrell got 2/16?!?!?!?!

Hendry, you fail.

I loathe the Cubs, but I wish Milton Bradley all the best. He was a great player for Texas this past season and we'll miss him.

I don't like this signing one bit I would of preferred Adam Dunn, plus they should of got Bradley cheaper since Burrell signed for 8 million a year.

"WOW, i cant wait until he fights with lou piniella."

I would pay anything to be a fly on the wall when this goes down! I think that it was when he had a brief stint with the Padres that he was arguing with the umpire and his own manager (if it was the Padres it was Bud Black) tackeled him to the ground jacking his knee and putting him out for the rest of the season. I thought that would be the end of his career, but here he is signing a lucrative contract. He is a good player, but he is just much better in the AL because of his proneness to injury. Good luck Cubbie Fans!

Time for Dunn, Giambi, Abreu, etc

"All this changes if Bradley somehow gets 500-600 at bats, because when he's healthy this guy is a monster."

Last year he was a monster. Prior to that he was only OK. Smells like Adrian Beltre to me.

Now if only Hendry can get Roberts or Peavy...

I personally prefer Roberts...our lineup would be pretty hot, and that dillweed Soriano won't have to lead off.

if he can stay on the field, this is a pretty good deal for the Cubs.

if not... FAIL.

I also think Lee needs to move out of the 3 spot in the lineup cause he's on the decline.

wow...Im not sure how I feel about this..oh wait, ya I am..WTH??Micah was an in house option and a much better fit in my eyes, we just ditched DeRo for Bradley, one of the few deals of Hendrys I dont approve of

This is a horrible move for the cubs you already have a corner outfielder in Soriano who is injury prone so lets add a guy who played the equivalent of 18 games in the field last year, all the while getting rid of the one guy (DeRosa) who could consistently fill in at these positions. If I were trying to sabotage this team I couldn't do much better.
And I especially like the idea of platooning him with Fukudome as mentioned above, 22 million a year for a platoon makes perfect sense. The cubbies still have a great team, but this one is gonna bite them in the butt!!!

I can't stand Milton Bradley but there must be a reason teammates love the guy.

If he plays 140 games a year, hits .290-25-90, I'm good.

Posted by: Michael M | January 05, 2009 at 03:15 PM

I agree, I remember when he was traded from oakland. Nick swisher hit a home run, and ran to the corner of the dug out and did the home run dance him and Milton used to do before he was gone.

Since he broke into the league in 2000, Bradley's three highest game totals have been 141, 126, and 101. The 141 and 101 seasons were in 2003 and 2004, and the 126 season was last year. So even hoping for 120 games is a lot...

"Either way, I think I liked the 2008 team more."

Posted by: scribbletone

I dont disagree with this. But look at the last two years in the playoffs. same result. somehting needed to change. And I think one of the things is the lineup. Move DLee around. People thought he had such a bad year. If he was batting in the two slot it would have been a great year. just the fact that you expect more power and such in the 3 hole. So hopefully with some of the moves we can get a different look at the lineup and possibly win 100. we'll have to see. GET AN OWNER!!!!

Question for Cubs fans or just someone who knows...Why is it Bradley has to play right field? Before this signing any free agent mentioned it was always 'but can he play right field at Wrigley' and I never understood why if it was such a huge deal they wouldn't consider moving Soriano over there. Not saying he could handle it better just kinda clueless on the whole thing. Or is it kinda like Soriano wanting to leadoff so they just let it roll?

Abreu is a damn good baseball player, whats up with this? I hate to say it cause he was with the enemy, but that guy comes to play.

They says right field is the most difficult pos to play in Wrigley. Having Kosuke over was nice. but with the lack of offensive production theyre going to platoon him in center with Reed Johnson. They are looking for a everyday player in right that has a good stick and hits left handed. Now is Bradley a everyday right fielder...not sure about that. But im not the GM so once again we will have to wait and see what happens. oh yeah. Sori struggles in left, let alone playing right.

Fukudome is now the CF! He will only be playing right field when Milton is out. Saying you have a platoon of Fukudome and Bradley is uninformed.

"you already have a corner outfielder in Soriano who is injury prone "

Soriano isn't injury prone, sorry.

Very solid signing for the Cubs. A lot of people are concerned that his attitude problems are going to effect his game play but i see it quite oppositely. I think in Chicago, being managed by Lou Pinella, Bradley can change his act and instead of disobeying to team rules, i really think he will hustle for the Cubbies...Bradley led the American League in on-base percentage last season while batting .321 with 22 homers for the Texas Rangers, there fore.... Nice Signing

"3/30 for an injury prone Bradley, after Burrell got 2/16?!?!?!?!

Hendry, you fail."

Burrell got signed for one year less and 2 mil per yer less....but he was a 2.8 win players last year while Milton was a 3.7 win player (mainly because he can rake AND is competent in the field).

Reed Johnson shouldn't be platooning with anybody. He deserves a shot as an everyday player.

Soxsider. They say Ozzie Guillen speaks 3 languages. If this is true, what are the 3? because im damn sure english isnt one of them. you having fun coming into a cubs related article just to make those comments..wocka wocka wocka.

Aduncaroo,
Soriano missed 28 starts in 07 thats a whole month, and
55 starts in 08, so he missed more than a quarter of the last two seasons combined. If thats not injury prone I don't know what is.

I agree with la16. Reed Johnson has done nothing but play hard and really well. love having him on the team thats for sure.

Maybe because he was playing the Sox, but everytime I saw Abreu, he hustled, patient at the plate. Could run for a guy his age. Well wish the Cubs the best on this.

This is a horrible contract for the Cubs. Jim Hendry should be fired. One year is too much, 3 years, at $10 million per? for a guy who can't play OF anymore? who keeps getting hurt every single year, and who keeps getting into trouble, every single year?

Complete Lunacy.

Milton Bradley, 9 years in the majors, has attacked 3 fans, 2 coaches/managers, 1 umpire, and 1 announcer. He's stayed healthy enough/not been suspended long enough to get over 500 ab's exactly once in 9 years.

Horrible, horrible signing. The guy can't even play RF.

"Beltre has been pretty good."

My point exactly--Beltre has been pretty good, not the monster that Seattle paid for.

"and
55 starts in 08, so he missed more than a quarter of the last two seasons combined. If thats not injury prone I don't know what is."

He got hit in the wrist with a pitch that broke his freakin wrist. Take a look at his career and tell me he is injury prone. i guess D. lee is too then? Come on.

"My point exactly--Beltre has been pretty good, not the monster that Seattle paid for."

According to Fangraphs, he has outplayed his contract.

The Doctors have all told T-Mac the more he plays the stronger he'll get--T-Mac refuses to play back to back games--he's a crybaby...just like Bradley...lol.

I thought James Andrews told him to rest his knee. I dont think I've ever heard T mac cry about too much besides winning, so I don't think that is entirely true. Well all know you don't go to James Andrews to hear that your injury needs more stress for strength.

Eh, the latest word was that he is fully healed from his surgery and needs to start playing more...who knows with T-Mac, maybe he's given up just like he did in Toronto and Orlando.

I'm happy that the Cubs got a good bat, switch hitter no less. I'm scared to death of Bradley's physical condition though. I can't see how any GM could sign him and expect to get more than 50 games in the field. Sorry, I just don't see it. The Cubs had the best offense in the NL last season and it wouldn't have been appreciable worse had they not made any changes for '09. Bradley is a very good player but my guess is that he won't make much impact on the lineup because he won't be in it long enough. I hope I'm wrong. Anyone remember Rondell White? Meet the new Rondell White, his name is Milton Bradley.

Let's disprove something right now: Bradley is not a monster when he's healthy.

In his single season of getting over 500 ab's, 2004, he had a 'monster' season of .267 with 19 hr's and 67 rbi.

He has driven in over 67 runs exactly once in his career, last year's career high of 77 rbi.

How many times has Bradley driven in 60 or more runs? Twice, in nine seasons.

He's hurt ALL the time, every single season, 8 out of 9 years, and if you piece together a full season out of his career production, he still is not a 'monster hitter'. 20 hr, 79 rbi, according to Baseball Reference.

Bradley's level of production is not worth the other garbage a team has to put up with to have him on the roster - the frequent trips to the d.l., the frequent outbursts, the out of control attacks on fans/coaches/managers/umpires/announcers. It might be different if he were putting up Manny Ramirez type numbers, but he's far from that.

What is so ridiculous about the entire thing is the Cubs dumped a $6 million dollar player who drove in 87 runs last season, for a $30 million dh who drove in 77 runs last season. They increased payrol for a subpar player.

$30 million over three years for a platoon OF'er?!?! Insane.

This guy will not be healthy for an entire season if he is playing in the OF.

A very bad decision made on '08's performance while DH'ing and only a 500 plate appearance sample.

Milton's numbers will be poor against RHP, his numbers will dip over an entire season, his numbers will dip because he is playing the OF, he will get injured several times over the life of the contract, and he will bump heads with Sweet Lou.

I'm guessing he'll get about 800 AB's over the life of this contract.

Well atleast the cubs have a DH when they go on the road in interleague play for the whole 4 percent of their schedule that it involves

Thats basically what this entire discussion is about. If he would have gotten a smaller deal the whole injury/attitude talk wouldnt matter. the money he got is the only reason it bothered me. The cubs just really want a left handed swinger in there to help out with the Fukudome. Maybe with Bradley and Fotenot consistantly in the lineup that will help Kosuke from swinging at balls that are in the Right Handed batters box. That whole spinning swing thing needs to go. I like kosuke, I guess my expectations were really high. especially after opening day

All "lolz" and "FAIL" comments aside, I like this signing for the upside. And I think his contract fits right in line with that for which Burrell signed. Durability aside, Bradley's upside looks pretty strong in 2009. Hendry can look like a genius or a goof after this one, but I'll give the GM credit for having some cojones.

As a Reds fan, I LOVE it that the Cubs signed Bradley instead of Abreu.

Now instead of dreading the Reds having yet ANOTHER losing season, I can look forward to the Cubs imploding and their Club House being in disarray.

"I'm guessing he'll get about 800 AB's over the life of this contract.

Posted by: GoTribe | January 05, 2009 at 04:04 PM "

LOL, whats the spread on that one?

Unfortunately I have seen Milton go ApeShit in person.. And you dudes in Chicago will tear him limb from to limb.. If he had a problem with LA/San Fran fans, hes going to love it there.. Jeez.

His bat makes all the sense in the world, his body makes none in RF. I said this yesterday but the Soriano contract should be moved(Wells?) and Dunn should of been signed to play left..

Why not Abreu?

Abreu's older, wanted more money and a longer contract than what Bradley was supposedly looking for. The Cubs have payroll issues; it would have been hard to make Abreu fit.

Personally, I didn't like the Abreu idea because of those reasons and that he'll begin a decline during whatever contract he gets. I also hate the Bradley signing because of his injury history (and the other problems should be a huge red flag).

This fits with Hendry's M.O., though. He'll overpay for career years (DeRosa from TX, resigning Dempster, etc) and give longer contracts than he maybe needs to. And the Cubs seem to have a fear of waiting to get what they think they need.

"As a Reds fan, I LOVE it that the Cubs signed Bradley instead of Abreu."

They are almost the same player, but Abreu stays healthy and has put the same numbers year after year. He did make more sense. Maybe his Defense slips, but he will play everyday.

"Now instead of dreading the Reds having yet ANOTHER losing season, I can look forward to the Cubs imploding and their Club House being in disarray"

I was going to reply but the first part of the sentence says it all

the guy couldnt stay in the line-up while DHing! At least you have Derosa to fill in when he gets hurt.....ohhhh wait......

"Jim Hendry, step into my office, because you f****** FIRED"