Bradley Signs with Cubs 3/$30 million (p. 33)

[TruffleShuffle]

Sarcasm? What team on Earth would need an attitude like Bradley's?

 

he's not a douchebag like most baseball fans seem to think he is.

[Butterscup1679666578]

Outfielder on the way

 

December 10, 2008, 5:17 PM

 

 

Cubs general Manager Jim Hendry had a meeting this afternoon with Seth Levinson, who represents free agent outfielders Milton Bradley and Raul Ibanez. At a lunch today with other big league managers, Lou Piniella told me that the Cubs will get a left-handed hitter for the lineup within the next couple of days. Bradley is a switch hitter who was mostly a DH in 2008. Ibanez is a left-handed hitter but has played mostly left field. Bradley would be more suited to be a right fielder for the Cubs.

 

 

 

Through baseball sources I've been able to find out that Bradley has already been looked at by Cubs trainers during the last month.

 

http://stations.espn.go.com/stations/espnradio1000/blog?id=3738908

 

Yayyyyyyyyyy Please be Bradley.

Great news, I really want Bradley and I think his attitude is something that this team needs not to mention a .999 OPS

Sarcasm? What team on Earth would need an attitude like Bradley's?

 

He may be an ass by from my understanding his teammates love his attitude towards the game

[Cubswin11]

Outfielder on the way

 

December 10, 2008, 5:17 PM

 

 

Cubs general Manager Jim Hendry had a meeting this afternoon with Seth Levinson, who represents free agent outfielders Milton Bradley and Raul Ibanez. At a lunch today with other big league managers, Lou Piniella told me that the Cubs will get a left-handed hitter for the lineup within the next couple of days. Bradley is a switch hitter who was mostly a DH in 2008. Ibanez is a left-handed hitter but has played mostly left field. Bradley would be more suited to be a right fielder for the Cubs.

 

 

 

Through baseball sources I've been able to find out that Bradley has already been looked at by Cubs trainers during the last month.

 

http://stations.espn.go.com/stations/espnradio1000/blog?id=3738908

 

Yayyyyyyyyyy Please be Bradley.

Great news, I really want Bradley and I think his attitude is something that this team needs not to mention a .999 OPS

Sarcasm? What team on Earth would need an attitude like Bradley's?

No sarcasm, the Cubs need a badass guy with a lot of intensity, sure Bradley has done a lot of things that are questionable and not the type of character you want. But all reports are that he behaved himself this season and was a really good leader in the Texas clubhouse and that his "bad attitude" that was portrayed upon him this last season was not warranted and was more a testament for his hardworking attitude and transforming himself into a leader and hardworker.

[KingCubsFan]

Sarcasm? What team on Earth would need an attitude like Bradley's?

 

he's not a douchebag like most baseball fans seem to think he is.

I don't see him as a douchebag at all. He's definitely intense, but he's also been known to pick fights with teammates in the past. He's like a crazy version of Zambrano. I wonder how they'll get along.

[B]

Sarcasm? What team on Earth would need an attitude like Bradley's?

 

he's not a douchebag like most baseball fans seem to think he is.

I don't see him as a douchebag at all. He's definitely intense, but he's also been known to pick fights with teammates in the past. He's like a crazy version of Zambrano. I wonder how they'll get along.

Zambrano is the crazy version of Zambrano.

[17 Seconds]

I also think Bradley's attitude would be good for this team. We need a cocky a-hole to bring some a-holish swagger to this team. Zambrano isn't really an a-hole, he just has anger issues and is really intense. Bradley can really rally a team and give them an edge they've really been missing over the past couple years.

 

That, or it could be a disaster.

[Derwood]

so supposedly leaving the clubhouse to go pick a fight with the Royals announcer in a game last year doesn't make him a douchebag?

[17 Seconds]

so supposedly leaving the clubhouse to go pick a fight with the Royals announcer in a game last year doesn't make him a douchebag?

 

i don't really care if he's a douchebag to people outside of the clubhouse. by all acounts he's become a very good teammate and a good clubhouse guy.

[TruffleShuffle]

so supposedly leaving the clubhouse to go pick a fight with the Royals announcer in a game last year doesn't make him a douchebag?

 

if that makes him a douchebag then the cubs already have some douchebags on the roster.

[Cubswin11]

so supposedly leaving the clubhouse to go pick a fight with the Royals announcer in a game last year doesn't make him a douchebag?

It would be nice to know we have Bradley to pay a visit to Thom/Marty Brennaman after they go on one of their rants about the Cubs...

[cbbryan]

so supposedly leaving the clubhouse to go pick a fight with the Royals announcer in a game last year doesn't make him a douchebag?

 

i don't really care if he's a douchebag to people outside of the clubhouse. by all acounts he's become a very good teammate and a good clubhouse guy.

 

 

I don't really see his being a douche an issue unless it's inside the clubhouse. He also shouldn't argue vehemently at 1B either.

[ELCABALLO45]

Paul Sullivan and Gordon Wittenmyer believe Milton Bradley is at the top of the Cubs' list for an outfielder. But even with the Matt Joyce acquisition, you have to figure the Rays are still a contender if the price is reasonable. The Rays can offer Bradley a chance to DH, which could be valuable if playing time incentives are part of his contract.

 

Both Chicago writers also name Raul Ibanez as a person of interest, with Sullivan citing Bobby Abreu as well.

[anabiono]

i just hope that part of bradley's contract would be a clause requiring him to train extensively from now till opening day...

 

i like the guy, but durability issues have me heavily preferring ibanez or even abreu

[davearm2]

i just hope that part of bradley's contract would be a clause requiring him to train extensively from now till opening day...

 

i like the guy, but durability issues have me heavily preferring ibanez or even abreu

No way. If Bradley misses a month or whatever, then you just slide Fukudome over to RF and play the Johnson/Pie tandem in CF. Heck Hoffpauir could pick up some slack too, if Pie goes in a Peavy deal.

 

The Cubs' depth makes Bradley the first priority even given his injury history.

 

If he's the cheapest of the three, then all the better.

[RedFlash]

i just hope that part of bradley's contract would be a clause requiring him to train extensively from now till opening day...

 

i like the guy, but durability issues have me heavily preferring ibanez or even abreu

No way. If Bradley misses a month or whatever, then you just slide Fukudome over to RF and play the Johnson/Pie tandem in CF. Heck Hoffpauir could pick up some slack too, if Pie goes in a Peavy deal.

 

The Cubs' depth makes Bradley the first priority even given his injury history.

 

If he's the cheapest of the three, then all the better.

 

Agree. Even if Bradley misses some time due to injury, there's always a low-ceiling, semi-decent producing OF that can be had. Guys liike Matt Diaz, Jay Payton (a 1 yr deal/$1 mill), Gabe Gross, Scott Hairston (perhaps the Cubs can get him included in the deal to replace DeRosa, one way or another), Jody Gerut etc, can be had for a couple of minor leaguer fillers, if you don't like Pie/Johnson. So yes, if the Cubs viiewed Bradley as the best option for RF, regardless of reputation, the Cubs would be wise to sign him over Ibanez and Abreu.

[inari]

Ick. I just can't see Bradley working out well. Not only has he not always been healthy, there's been times in his career where he hasn't even been that good. He's no lock to produce good numbers. The last season in which he played over 120 games before this last one was 2004, in which his OPS+ was 108. Not only is he a huge injury risk, he's not even close to a lock to perform spectacularly. I'd much prefer Abreu, who is durable, consistent, and draws walks like no body's business. He's not much of a defender, but neither is Bradley, IIRC. And when Bradley inevitably gets hurt, it's looking like we won't have DeRo to step in. I'd much prefer...

 

LF Soriano

2B Fontenot

RF Abreu

3B Ramirez

C Soto

1B Lee

CF Fukudome

SS Theriot

 

That said, I know I'm pretty much alone on that one.

[17 Seconds]

Abreu still has good patience, but I wouldn't say he "draw walks like nobody's business" anymore. He's gone from 124 to 84 to 73 in the past 3 seasons, delcining right along with his other numbers. He drew the same amount of walks as Theriot last year.

[third eye]

so supposedly leaving the clubhouse to go pick a fight with the Royals announcer in a game last year doesn't make him a douchebag?

 

i don't really care if he's a douchebag to people outside of the clubhouse. by all acounts he's become a very good teammate and a good clubhouse guy.

 

 

I don't really see his being a douche an issue unless it's inside the clubhouse. He also shouldn't argue vehemently at 1B either.

 

Haha, I don't know that Lou has it in him anymore to take a player down that way.

[RynoRules]

If the choices are Ibanez, Abreu or Bradley, then give me Bradley.

 

But I'd rather have Adam Dunn.

[Wheelimus]

so supposedly leaving the clubhouse to go pick a fight with the Royals announcer in a game last year doesn't make him a douchebag?

 

Not really. He won't be able to DH and get distracted much for the Cubs. :D

 

And Zambrano will crush him into the ground if he's upstaged.

[Jehrico]

Ick. I just can't see Bradley working out well. Not only has he not always been healthy, there's been times in his career where he hasn't even been that good. He's no lock to produce good numbers. The last season in which he played over 120 games before this last one was 2004, in which his OPS+ was 108. Not only is he a huge injury risk, he's not even close to a lock to perform spectacularly. I'd much prefer Abreu, who is durable, consistent, and draws walks like no body's business. He's not much of a defender, but neither is Bradley, IIRC. And when Bradley inevitably gets hurt, it's looking like we won't have DeRo to step in. I'd much prefer...

 

LF Soriano

2B Fontenot

RF Abreu

3B Ramirez

C Soto

1B Lee

CF Fukudome

SS Theriot

 

That said, I know I'm pretty much alone on that one.

If Bradley is healthy, he is as much of a lock to put up pretty good number as anyone else who is available.

[Jehrico]

so supposedly leaving the clubhouse to go pick a fight with the Royals announcer in a game last year doesn't make him a douchebag?

 

Not really. He won't be able to DH and get distracted much for the Cubs. :D

 

And Zambrano will crush him into the ground if he's upstaged.

Mike Fontenot approves this message. Michael Barrett, on the other hand, does not.

[Tyrant]

If the choices are Ibanez, Abreu or Bradley, then give me Bradley.

 

But I'd rather have Adam Dunn.

 

Any play him where? Rover?

[MSG T]

If the choices are Ibanez, Abreu or Bradley, then give me Bradley.

 

But I'd rather have Adam Dunn.

 

Any play him where? Rover?

 

I think the point is, when compared to those three, there's not much drop off defensively to Dunn. He's definitely no Fukudome, defensively, but Ibanez, Abreu and Bradley wouldn't be confused with Fuku either. On their best days, all three are most likely slightly below average, on their worst days, they're Dunn. Regardless of who the Cubs get, there will be a big dropoff on defense.

 

That said, Dunn will cost $4-5 mil per more than any of the others, and will probably demand a longer contract. The others could probably be gotten for 1 or 2 year deals, Dunn will probably require 3-4 years. And given the current situation with the payroll, Dunn, unfortunately, isn't an option.

 

It would be sweet to have him though.

 

Of the actual options, I'd prefer Bradley. Even with the injury concerns.

[Sammy Sofa]

If the choices are Ibanez, Abreu or Bradley, then give me Bradley.

 

But I'd rather have Adam Dunn.

 

Any play him where? Rover?

 

Take your pick between him and Sori as to which will play LF and RF.

 

I'd happily take the sexy offensive production that would far outweigh any defensive issues.