Chad Bradford Rumors

Chad Bradford Leaning Toward Retirement

Sidearmer Chad Bradford is leaning toward retirement, Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times learned. Bradford told Topkin he'll still leave the door open for next year, and probably decide in January. The 35-year-old had elbow surgery in February and back tightness in July, resulting in only 10.3 big league innings this year. Bradford is finishing up a three-year, $10.5MM deal signed with Baltimore before the '06 season. He joined the Rays via a waiver claim last August. If he's done, Bradford would finish with a 3.26 ERA over 515.6 career innings. He pitched in the playoffs seven different years,...   Continue Reading

---

Rays, Red Sox Talking Blockbusters With Tribe

4:33pm: Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports hear that the Rays may be shying away from a blockbuster deal. They're 5.0 games behind Boston in the Wild Card race, so their next two games against the Yankees could determine the team's direction. If the Rays are discouraged after the Yankees series, they could make Dan Wheeler, Chad Bradford, Grant Balfour, Joe Nelson and Lance Cormier available, according to the FOX Sports source. 12:59pm: The Rays have shopped Scott Kazmir to the Mets and Rangers, according to Joel Sherman. The Rangers turned down an offer from the Rays...   Continue Reading

---

Mariners Make Putz Available

According to Joel Sherman of the New York Post, the Mariners have made closer J.J. Putz available. The Mets will talk with the Ms about him at next week's Meetings, but the Indians and other clubs will likely get involved. It sounds like the Mets would be happy to acquire Putz rather than give four years to Francisco Rodriguez/Brian Fuentes or three to Kerry Wood. Matthew Cerrone has more on the Mets' bullpen plans here. Putz, 32 in February, posted a 3.88 ERA in 46.1 innings this year. He struggled with his control, and hits dropped it at an inordinate...   Continue Reading

---

Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Sabathia, Yankees, Pirates, Rays

Let's take a look at what is being written in the Blogosphere... MetsBlog feels the reported interest in C.C. Sabathia is overblown. Rather, they see the Mets waiting for Sabathia to sign before making a move of their own for starting pitching. River Ave. Blues still sees the Yankees pursuing Mark Teixeira or Adam Dunn, even with the acquisition of Nick Swisher. Where have you gone, Andy Van Slyke speculates on what the Pirates will do this winter while finding humor in this recent quote from the Buccos' GM: "we'd love to upgrade the offense, upgrade our pitching, and rebuild...   Continue Reading

---

Rays Designate Reyes

Last night, veteran Al Reyes was DFA'd by the Tampa Bay Rays to make room for Chad Bradford. Reyes is 38 and has a 4.37 ERA (actually a touch better than last year's mark of 4.90). He's had two stints on the DL this year, and has had a 5.14 ERA in 8 games since last being activated. Reyes said he needs to get the ball more than "every four or five days" to stay consistent, but also said he wasn't surprised by the move. He's making 2.3MM this year. The Rays have 10 days to make a move. I'm...   Continue Reading

---

Odds and Ends: Manny, McDonald, Bradford, Bowden

Collection o' links... Craig Monroe has cleared waivers and become a free agent. ESPN's Jerry Crasnick talks to Pirates GM Neal Huntington about his deadline deals. Pirates players Chris Duffy and Franquelis Osoria cleared waivers and will head to Triple A. Blue Jays GM J.P. Ricciardi says manager Cito Gaston will be back next year. Yesterday Dan Shaughnessy wrote a few sentences about the commissioner's office investigating Manny Ramirez's final hours with the Red Sox. It's become a national story. More on the situation from the L.A. Times. Sean McAdam wonders if the Red Sox could acquire Toronto shortstop John...   Continue Reading

---

Rays Acquire Chad Bradford

According to Roch Kubatko of MASN Sports, the Rays won a waiver claim on reliever Chad Bradford. They'll send a player to be named later to the Orioles for him. The Rays strengthened an already excellent bullpen. Bradford, 34 next month, has a 2.45 ERA in 40.1 innings this year. His strikeout rate is dangerously low, but he's not walking anyone or allowing home runs. He also has a very strong groundball rate. Bradford has $1.05MM left on his contract this year plus $3.5MM in '09. Aside from the Angels, all the other American League teams passed on the chance...   Continue Reading

---

More From Stark: Mets, Dodgers, Indians

Jayson Stark brings us a few more tidbits from the Hot Stove... The price for Raul Ibanez may be too high for the Mets as Stark reiterates what we heard previously, that Fernando Martinez and Jon Niese are not available...Ken Rosenthal added Robert Parnell to that list of untouchables. The Mets may no longer be in the running for Brian Fuentes as they are not willing to part with Aaron Heilman. Stark says other relief pitchers the Mets have shown some interest in include Cla Meredith, Chad Bradford and Jeremy Affeldt. The Dodgers are said to be interested in several...   Continue Reading

---

Will Carroll's Latest: Blake, Mike Gonzalez, Fuentes

Baseball Prospectus' Will Carroll checks in with a slew of rumors. Carroll believes Orioles relievers Jamie Walker and Chad Bradford would clear waivers. Bradford isn't striking anyone out, but he does have a 2.45 ERA by virtue of good control and tons of grounders. He has a reasonable $3.5MM commitment for '09. Casey Blake suitors: Mets, Rays, and Twins. Carroll wonders if the Rangers could send an outfielder to Atlanta for closer Mike Gonzalez. MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan also linked the Rangers to Gonzalez. Gonzalez is under team control through '09; I'd be surprised to see him traded. The Marlins are...   Continue Reading

---

Healey's Latest: Wilkerson, Marte

Gotham Baseball's Mark Healey has a new post up with some good trade rumors: The Mets are talking to the Rangers about Brad Wilkerson, not Eric Gagne. This makes sense, as Wilkerson has hit lefties well this year and can play right field. The Mets are also talking to the Reds; could've been about Ken Griffey Jr. or David Weathers. From what we've heard, though, Weathers is not available. And would Junior approve a trade to the Mets? He vetoed a trade there once before. The Pirates want Alan Horne from the Yankees for Damaso Marte. Given that Brian Cashman..   Continue Reading

---

Top Stories

Search MLBTR

Lijit Search

MLBTR Features

Recent Posts

MLBTR Mailing List

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

Rumors By Team

Monthly Archives

Live Chats

Tuesdays at 2 p.m. CST