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Milton Bradley

Padres Rumors: Bay, Scott, Barrett

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Tom Krasovic of the San Diego Union-Tribune has a late-night update for us.

  • Several outfielders are on the radar that we haven’t previously linked to San Diego: Milton Bradley, Xavier Nady, and Jason Bay.  Of course all three have played for the Padres in the past.  It would certainly be an interesting storyline if they reacquired Bay.
  • Ken Rosenthal told us earlier that the Padres talks for Luke Scott broke off.  Krasovic doesn’t say that, but notes that the Astros want catcher Nick Hundley for him.  The 24 year-old backstop hit .247/.324/.475 in Double A last year.  According to Baseball America, Hundley profiles as a big league regular and could be respectable botg offensively and defensively.
  • Michael Barrett still hasn’t decided whether to accept arby.

Rangers Rumors: Patterson, Bradley, Bay

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T.R. Sullivan recently filed his Rangers report at MLB.com.

  • The Rangers will meet with Scott Boras soon to talk about Eric Gagne.
  • Another topic for the Boras conversation: Corey Patterson.
  • The Rangers like Milton Bradley, and have asked for his medical reports.  Bradley’s agent said a few days ago that he would be ready for Opening Day.
  • The Bucs’ asking prices for Jason Bay and Nate McLouth were deemed too high – Eric Hurley and Elvis Andrus were suggested.
  • External first base options: Mike Lamb, Tony Clark, and Ben Broussard.

Padres Targeting Matt Kemp?

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As always, Tom Krasovic has the scoop on the Padres.

  • Free agents Geoff Blum and Milton Bradley are not expected back.  Blum wanted to return but the Padres are going to pass.  Blum is likely to sign with Houston.
  • The Padres may try a combo of Scott Hairston and Chase Headley in left field next year. Wouldn’t it make more sense to push Kevin Kouzmanoff out there?  It’ll probably be a moot point, as the Padres are hoping to sign Geoff Jenkins.
  • Krasovic tantalizes us by not elaborating on this tidbit: Responding to Colletti’s preference for veterans, the Padres are contemplating three-team trade scenarios that would bring them young Dodgers outfielder Matt Kemp.  In my opinion, any kind of deal that nets the Padres Kemp would have to involve Headley.  This tidbit may be more brainstorming than anything.
  • The Padres may offer Andruw Jones a one-year, $17MM deal.  However Scott Boras is still acting like Jones’ 2007 didn’t happen.

Padres Rumors: Maddux, Cabrera, Barrett, Bradley

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As usual, Tom Krasovic has the scoop with the Padres.

  • The Padres expect Greg Maddux back, at a salary near the $10MM he earned in ’07.  One way it could happen – Mad Dog declines his $8.75MM player option and the Padres exercise their $11MM club option.  Otherwise they’ll just tear it up and figure something out.
  • The Padres will pass on available third basemen Alex Rodriguez and Miguel Cabrera.  It sounds like a Padres team source is indicating the Marlins plan to shop Cabrera aggressively.  As if this offseason wasn’t going to be crazy enough, here’s another marquee player on the market.  The Padres have some depth at third base, so they’ll sit out.
  • Apparently the Elias rankings have leaked out somewhere, though I haven’t seen the list yet.  Michael Barrett and Milton Bradley both earned Type A designation, though it won’t matter if the Padres don’t offer arbitration to either.  With either player there’s a decent chance he would accept the offer.  Barrett maybe not, as he might be able to find a two-year deal elsewhere.  Still, it’d be risky.  Unfortunately Mike Cameron and Doug Brocail got the Type B designation (not that that makes sense).  Cameron will probably get offered arbitration; it would’ve been nice to get the Braves’ 18th overall pick.

Random Rumors

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Some random rumors to help you get through your Thursday morning…

  • As you might imagine, the Rangers are keenly watching and hoping Alex Rodriguez opts out of his contract.  That would free up $7MM for them in each of the next three years.  Rangers’ manager Ron Washington’s wish list includes a center fielder, corner outfielder, and first baseman.  The Rangers have been connected to Torii Hunter quite a bit, but they’ll have plenty of competition.
  • Will the exchange rate free up a bunch of money for the Blue Jays?  Perhaps even enough to make a pass at A-Rod?  Hey, fans can dream.  Mine!
  • Something I didn’t mention yesterday – Elijah Dukes is playing winter ball.  The Rays still don’t seem to have any room for him in the outfield or at DH.  Maybe the Marlins will get involved again?  Would Kevin Gregg work?    
  • Gordon Wittenmyer thinks the Cubs should keep Jacque Jones for 2008, which makes sense.  Wittenmyer also believes 22 year-old Felix Pie with 194 big league plate appearances, has proven conclusively that he can’t hit Major League pitching.  His suggestion is to trade Pie now.
  • Larry Borowsky wants the Cardinals to sign Milton Bradley.   
  • Jeff Sackmann recommends against Geoff Jenkins’ $9MM option for ’08, but the decision was tougher than you think.

Padres Acquire Milton Bradley

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According to Tom Krasovic of the San Diego Union-Tribune, the Padres have acquired Milton Bradley from the A’s for 26 year-old reliever Andrew Brown.  Krasovic says Bradley would play left field for the Padres if healthy.  The Padres got Brown from the Indians in the Josh Barfield deal.  Oddly, the Indians got Brown from the Dodgers before that for Milton Bradley.  Brown throws in the mid-90s, even touching 99 at times.  He could make a useful reliever for Oakland. 

Bradley and Michael Barrett look like a couple of low-risk, decent reward acquisitions for Kevin Towers.  He’s really a smart GM.  He’s definitely added some fire to the clubhouse with these trades.  And don’t forget Paul DePodesta, who definitely had a hand in this.

Ken Rosenthal believes the Bradley acquisition takes the Padres off the market for big-name sluggers like Adam Dunn and Jermaine Dye.  Dye might be untradeable anyway, because he’s not healthy right now.  Bad timing on that for the White Sox.

There was quite an embroilment this week in the Oakland Tribune over the A’s DFA of Bradley.  Columnist Dave Del Grande started the tiff by claiming that the A’s cut Bradley because he’s black.  Billy Beane was not amused.

Jacque Jones Trade Near?

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According to Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times yesterday, the Cubs are trying to trade another position player by Monday so they can add a 12th pitcher.

That position player probably is our good friend Jacque Jones.  Wittenmyer named the Padres, Rangers, and White Sox as interested parties.  Bruce Miles adds the Mets to the mix.  The Cubs would have to eat some of the $7.2MM or so remaining on Jones’ contract, which runs through 2008.  Another option would be to move shortstop Cesar Izturis, who has about $2.6MM left on his deal (assuming his ’08 option is bought out).

Buster Olney yesterday mentioned that the Cubs were one of the teams in one Milton Bradley, in addition to the Yankees and Padres.  Bradley is still fair game, and the Cubs may be looking to replace Jones with him.

Royals’ Bradley Trade Cancelled

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UPDATE: The trade of Bradley to the Royals has already fallen through.  Turns out Bradley had an oblique injury that neither team was aware of.  Maybe the GMs can still work something out, since Bradley could’ve been expected to have an oblique injury within a week or two anyway.

According to ESPN, the Royals have acquired Milton Bradley from the A’s for reliever Leo Nunez.  It’s a surprising move for Kansas City.

Nunez is a 23 year-old righty reliever.  He’s been compared to Julian Tavarez.  He’s got a decent hitter but his secondary pitches need work.  Nunez has been knocked around in 67 big league innings.  He’s pitching well in Double A this year but A) he probably belongs in Triple A and B) his strikeout rate is poor.

Bradley will presumably be the Royals’ regular left fielder, at least until he finds his way back to the DL.  If Dayton Moore doesn’t spin him off for something better than Nunez before the deadline, I don’t get the move.

Rosenthal’s Latest

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Ken Rosenthal has a new column up.  A summary appears below.

  • Rosenthal thinks the Tigers are unlikely to acquire Eric Gagne or Akinori Otsuka, perhaps preferring to look at internal options.  That’s a shame, as I think they really need to add someone.
  • The White Sox won’t be granting a 72 hour negotiating window if they trade Mark Buehrle.  Strictly a rental.  That could limit the market for him, but Kenny Williams will come up with at least one quality prospect.
  • The Dodgers don’t seem likely to trade for Adam Dunn or Jermaine Dye, but could go after Mark Teixeira.  Dye seems most likely to end up in the NL West somehow, but only if he is healthy and hitting.
  • Possible Dontrelle Willis suitors: the Rockies or Diamondbacks.  They’ve got the young trading chips, and the need in the present day.  The Rox could offer Aaron Cook plus prospects, and the D’Backs could try Livan Hernandez and youngsters.  If the D’Backs dare offer up Justin Upton, the Marlins would jump.  Of course, D-Train needs to be healthy and the Marlins would need to fall out of contention.
  • Barry Bonds’s agent really doesn’t see a trade happening.  Well, no one does, but it’s fun to speculate.  Rosenthal thinks only the Yankees could accomodate him.
  • Aside from the Pirates and Padres, the Astros, Cardinals, and Rangers could go after Milton Bradley. 
  • Rosenthal has a GM source who thinks the Reds could wait until this winter, exercise Adam Dunn’s $13MM option for ’08, and then trade him.  Dunn, however, would gain no-trade protection until June 15, 2008 and then be able to block 10 teams thereafter.
  • Troy Glaus isn’t going anywhere.  Even if the Jays wanted to trade him, his contract is prohibitive.
  • The Indians or Rockies could trade for Octavio Dotel for bullpen depth.  Dotel is developing into a fine trading chip for Dayton Moore, just as planned.  The Tribe has had interest in Dotel in past offseasons. 

Possible Milton Bradley Suitors

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Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle mentions several potential suitors for Milton Bradley in today’s column.  She names the Padres and Pirates as possibilities, citing connections to Paul DePodesta and Jim Tracy.  Additionally, Slusser quotes Billy Beane in saying that he worked on a Bradley trade within the past three weeks but it fell through.

The Pirates, as a noncontender, really don’t need to be picking up impending free agents.  There’s just no reason for it.  They need to give as much playing time to young players as possible.

The Padres, though, make a fine fit.  Bradley could help them in all three outfield spots, when healthy.  John Perrotto confirms interest from both teams. 

Meanwhile, the Mets will apparently pass because of Bradley’s baggage.  Bradley, though, had a relatively peaceful stay in Oakland. 

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