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

[jersey cubs fan]

:D

 

http://math.berkeley.edu/~inoue/img/mb.jpg

 

He was in his mid 20's and just made his first million. Now he's entering his early 30's and set for life financially. I'm sure he's mellowed...

[rchap24]

I would think the Marquis trade will be announced soon along with the Bako signing.

 

I would think so

[StylesClash]

Roto doesn't like the deal

 

ESPN reports that the Cubs and Milton Bradley have agreed to terms on a three-year, $30 million contract.

 

That was the expected amount, but it still looks like a pretty poor deal for the Cubs, especially with Pat Burrell signing for $16 million over two years on the same day. Bradley may or may not still be an above average defensive outfielder. What we can be relatively certain of is that he won't be a healthy one for long. Bradley has played in 130 games just once in his career. He's an underrated star when he's on the field, but he's not worth a $30 million commitment.

 

Rotoworld usually trashes free agent signings, including the Lilly and DeRosa deals a few years back. Ken Rosenthal putting down the signing would mean a lot more to me than anything those roto hacks have to say.

 

Anyways I expect the Cubs to have a similar approach in handling Milton Bradley as they do with Rich Harden. Neither is expected to play a full seasons worth of games. The key with both players is getting them into the postseason fully healthy. If Harden and Bradley are healthy come October both are talented enough to carry the team on their backs for a few weeks. Plus with Milwaukee looking to be a lot worse from losing Sabathia and more than likely Sheets we wont need a full season of Bradley to make the postseason. I'd take around 100 starts in the regular season as long as he makes it to October healthy.

[ChiCubsfan0502]

Projected 2009 lineup

 

Soriano

Theriot

Lee

Ramirez

Bradley

Soto

Fukudome

Fontenot

[Butterscup1679666578]

Alright good stuff. Let's get Marquis' deal done and see what else this offseason has left for us.

[Guest]

Projected 2009 lineup

 

Soriano

Theriot

Lee

Ramirez

Bradley

Soto

Fukudome

Fontenot

I really doubt they group two of the three lefties at the bottom of the lineup.

[Bruno7481]

I think this deal is a risk, but what deal isn't these days? The offense certainly has potential to be very good, but it is also likely to suffer with the loss of DeRosa, no improvement from Fukudome, and likely injury issues with Bradley. Edited January 5, 2009 by Bruno7481

[nilodnayr]

Projected 2009 lineup

 

Soriano

Theriot

Lee

Ramirez

Bradley

Soto

Fukudome

Fontenot

 

I doubt they'd load up all the lefties in the 5 (SH), 7, 8 spots.

[ChiCubsfan0502]

Projected 2009 lineup

 

Soriano

Theriot

Lee

Ramirez

Bradley

Soto

Fukudome

Fontenot

I really doubt they group two of the three lefties at the bottom of the lineup.

 

I agree with that. That said, what can you do here?

[cubsfan26]

Projected 2009 lineup

 

Soriano

Theriot

Lee

Ramirez

Bradley

Soto

Fukudome

Fontenot

I really doubt they group two of the three lefties at the bottom of the lineup.

 

 

Yeah Theriot might be moved down to 7th or 8th, with either Fontenot or Fukudome hitting 2nd. But I guess it all depends on how the guys are hitting at the time. If Fukudome hits like he did the first three months of last year, he would be a ideal number 2 hitter.

[davell]

I could see the 3-4-5 of our lineup being Ramirez/Bradley/Lee.

[Peoriaman]

I just bothered to look at his career batting numbers. Nothing special. I'm not sure how he turned into one of the key OF available this offseason, but whatever. It is an improvement, I just don't think he's gonna be an impact guy. I hope I'm wrong.

 

I agree. It seems he caught the Texas lightning in a bottle. He'll be fairly productive when he's healthy, but probably not nearly as good as he was last year.

 

Anyone else sick to their stomachs knowing that we now have approximately $70 million tied up in Fukudome & Bradley for the next 3 years? Due to contracts, our offense will remain nearly exactly the same for the next 3 years. It better be good again.

 

No, not me.

[jersey cubs fan]

Projected 2009 lineup

 

Soriano

Theriot

Lee

Ramirez

Bradley

Soto

Fukudome

Fontenot

 

I doubt they'd load up all the lefties in the 5 (SH), 7, 8 spots.

 

I also hope Theriot is nowhere near the top. Hopefully Fukudome improves enough to get bumped up there.

[cubsfan26]

I could see the 3-4-5 of our lineup being Ramirez/Bradley/Lee.

 

 

It could end up that way if Lee is hitting like he did last year. But I think the Cubs will at least go into the season with Lee batting third, and expect him to have a better season.

[BigbadB]

Projected 2009 lineup

 

Soriano

Theriot

Lee

Ramirez

Bradley

Soto

Fukudome

Fontenot

 

I doubt they'd load up all the lefties in the 5 (SH), 7, 8 spots.

 

I know Lee has sort of been the staple of the #3 hole the last several years, but it's high time to move him down in the order, IMO.

 

I would go:

 

Soriano

Fontenot/Miles

Bradley

Ramirez

Soto

Lee

Fukudome/Johnson

Theriot

 

If Fukudome can find his groove, I'd move him and Johnson back to the 2 hole. Until then, those are some decent OBP guys to get on base at the bottom of the order for Soriano.

 

Now we just need to see what Cleveland might want for Mark DeRosa, and our offense will be all set.

[rchap24]

I could see the 3-4-5 of our lineup being Ramirez/Bradley/Lee.

 

 

It could end up that way if Lee is hitting like he did last year. But I think the Cubs will at least go into the season with Lee batting third, and expect him to have a better season.

 

and I could see it

 

Soriano

Miles

Lee

Bradley

Ramirez

Soto

Theriot

Fukudome

[Shilzzz]

Lee deserves to be nowhere higher than 5th in the lineup. maybe second. maybe.

 

Anyhow, this is a bad deal people are going to really regret, probably more than the Soriano deal. Unless they get Peavy somehow, this will have been the worst offseason for the Cubs in quite some time. Luckily for us, the Brewers has been even worse, the Cardinals still refuse to throw money to anything not named Pujols, and Houston is just dumb.

 

I guess all that matters is getting into the postseason, and then it's a roll of dice.

[Cubswin11]

Bradley has put up his best numbers batting 4th, I would think Lou will put him somewhere 3-5 so here are his numbers in those respective spots

 

3rd: 281G 1059 AB's .266/.358/.433/.792 51 2B/40 HR

4th: 180G 613 AB's .331/.443/.566/1.009 52 2B/30 HR

5th: 108G 388 AB's .268/.352/.433/.785 18 2B/14 HR

 

I would like to see 3-5 of:

Ramirez

Bradley

Lee

[Bear Cub]

The 40 man roster is now full. Either Bako will be getting a minor lge deal or someone will have to go shortly.

[Soul]

Im getting flashbacks of Jaque Jones going hitless in his first 20 or 30 AB's and getting booed..God I hope that doesnt repeat with Bradley

 

If that happens, this could turn into a trainwreck in a hurry...

 

At least it'll be entertaining.

 

Bradley is probably far more likely to have a Cubs career somewhere along the lines of Rondell White/Moises Alou than Jacque Jones. Jacque was a relatively weak hitter compared to those three.

 

The key is that at least the Cubs have some other quality bats. They are maintaining their status as a team of good but not great hitters, which, when couple with minimal holes, can lead to a lot of runs.

 

Rondell White is a name that keeps coming into my mind as well.

[rchap24]

Bradley has put up his best numbers batting 4th, I would think Lou will put him somewhere 3-5 so here are his numbers in those respective spots

 

3rd: 281G 1059 AB's .266/.358/.433/.792 51 2B/40 HR

4th: 180G 613 AB's .331/.443/.566/1.009 52 2B/30 HR

5th: 108G 388 AB's .268/.352/.433/.785 18 2B/14 HR

 

I would like to see 3-5 of:

Ramirez

Bradley

Lee

 

I wouldn't mind Lee at the 2,5,or 6 spot, but I think Piniella will still keep him in the 3 spot

[BigbadB]

I'm picturing the line up on days that neither Soriano or Bradley can go:

 

Gathright

Theriot

Lee

Ramirez

Soto

Johnson

Fukudome

Miles

[WindyCity]

I'm picturing the line up on days that neither Soriano or Bradley can go:

 

Gathright

Theriot

Lee

Ramirez

Soto

Johnson

Fukudome

Miles

 

And that makes me picture a blue "L" flag....

[haubrich91]

Our line up looks so deep now.

 

We have at least five home run hitters (or at least close) in Soriano, Ramirez, Soto, Bradley and Lee.

 

Hopefully we're not a home run or nothing team though.

Edited January 5, 2009 by haubrich91

[nilodnayr]

Projected 2009 lineup

 

Soriano

Theriot

Lee

Ramirez

Bradley

Soto

Fukudome

Fontenot

I really doubt they group two of the three lefties at the bottom of the lineup.

 

I agree with that. That said, what can you do here?

 

(2009 projected Marcel's wOBA)

 

Soriano (358)

Lee (359)

Bradley (384)

Ramirez (371)

Soto (369)

Fontenot (355)

Theriot (331)

Fukudome/Johnson (326/329)