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

[jersey cubs fan]

Even his bat is mediocre

 

How do you figure?

 

His OPS+ the last three years are 125, 121, 124 and that comes in a pitcher's park. I don't like Ibanez all that much, but to say his bat is "mediocre" is pushing it.

 

Yeah, he's been surprisingly good the past few years. But he's also old, and I'd really be scared of what he does going forward.

[RammyFanny]

Bradley is still the player in which the Cubs are most interested and a source told me yesterday that Bradley wants to play for the Cubs.

http://stations.espn.go.com/stations/espnradio1000/blog?id=3738908&post=3762754

[RynoRules]

Bradley is still the player in which the Cubs are most interested and a source told me yesterday that Bradley wants to play for the Cubs.

http://stations.espn.go.com/stations/espnradio1000/blog?id=3738908&post=3762754

 

Awesome.

[RynoRules]

Even his bat is mediocre

 

How do you figure?

 

His OPS+ the last three years are 125, 121, 124 and that comes in a pitcher's park. I don't like Ibanez all that much, but to say his bat is "mediocre" is pushing it.

 

Yeah, he's been surprisingly good the past few years. But he's also old, and I'd really be scared of what he does going forward.

 

I agree - I'd rather have Bradley, or since we are asking, Dunn.

[17 Seconds]

Last 2 seasons

 

.291/.351/.480 (.831)

.293/.358/.479 (.837)

 

Yeah, for a corner outfielder I find that to be extremely mediocre, especially when he'll get a multi-year deal at about 10 mil per.

[inari]

Well, Bradley is a lot more appealing with DeRosa likely to be here. But I'm still not optimistic at all. Why we're not pursuing Dunn is beyond me.

[RynoRules]

Last 2 seasons

 

.291/.351/.480 (.831)

.293/.358/.479 (.837)

 

Yeah, for a corner outfielder I find that to be extremely mediocre, especially when he'll get a multi-year deal at about 10 mil per.

 

Now you are adding issues to qualify and justify your opinion. There's a difference between saying, "his bat is mediocre", and saying "his bat is mediocre for a corner OF'er earning $10 mill per season". You added two factors that weren't present in your first post.

 

Plus, who says he's getting $10 mill? Bradley is unlikely to get that much; what makes you think that Ibanez will?

[RynoRules]

Well, Bradley is a lot more appealing with DeRosa likely to be here. But I'm still not optimistic at all. Why we're not pursuing Dunn is beyond me.

 

Agreed, unless the thought is that he simply cannot play RF under any circumstances.

[Butterscup1679666578]

Bradley is still the player in which the Cubs are most interested and a source told me yesterday that Bradley wants to play for the Cubs.

http://stations.espn.go.com/stations/espnradio1000/blog?id=3738908&post=3762754

 

Sexy.

[YearofDaCubs]

Well, Bradley is a lot more appealing with DeRosa likely to be here. But I'm still not optimistic at all. Why we're not pursuing Dunn is beyond me.

It probably has to do with his asking price and his horrible defense.

[17 Seconds]

Well, Bradley is a lot more appealing with DeRosa likely to be here. But I'm still not optimistic at all. Why we're not pursuing Dunn is beyond me.

It probably has to do with his asking price and his horrible defense.

 

A) We haveno idea what his asking price is

 

B) His defense isn't worse than most of the other candidates we've been hearing about

[jersey cubs fan]

Plus, who says he's getting $10 mill? Bradley is unlikely to get that much; what makes you think that Ibanez will?

 

Bradley has health and volatility issues that should keep his price tag lower. And yeah, I've been hearing Ibanez is going to get 3/30-36 the whole time.

[TruffleShuffle]

Last 2 seasons

 

.291/.351/.480 (.831)

.293/.358/.479 (.837)

 

Yeah, for a corner outfielder I find that to be extremely mediocre, especially when he'll get a multi-year deal at about 10 mil per.

 

he plays half his games in one of the most extreme pitchers parks in baseball. his numbers, when weighted for park factors, are just about as good as aramis ramirez since 2006:

 

aramis, OPS+ and EqA the past 3 years:

126, 129, 128 and .292, .294, .297

 

ibanez:

125, 121, 124 and .295, .293, .295

 

 

by the way average is 100 and .260, so i'd say that ibanez was much better than "extremely mediocre," regardless of what position he played.

[17 Seconds]

I didn't realize Safeco was a pitcher's park

[17 Seconds]

His splits aren't really matching up though. He's been better at home than on the road in 5 of the last 6 seasons (didn't look past that) and he's often been significantly better at home

[TruffleShuffle]

His splits aren't really matching up though. He's been better at home than on the road in 5 of the last 6 seasons (didn't look past that) and he's often been significantly better at home

 

well one of those years he was playing for the royals, so we can pretty much throw that out as a non-factor to the discussion. 2004, 2005 and 2008 he was only very slightly better at home (about 20 to 30 ops points), 2006 he was significantly better at home, 2007 he was significantly better on the road (more than 150 ops). overall he was only marginally better at safeco. and that doesn't change anything; he hit well at a good pitcher's park.

[cubsfan26]

Yeah I would expect Ibanez power to be better if he went to the Cubs or Phillies. But the guy will also be 37 next year, so who knows if decline will start to set in. But I have heard the guy is in amazing shape for his age, and many believe he's less likely to decline.

[TruffleShuffle]

Yeah I would expect Ibanez power to be better if he went to the Cubs or Phillies. But the guy will also be 37 next year, so who knows if decline will start to set in. But I have heard the guy is in amazing shape for his age, and many believe he's less likely to decline.

 

yeah he was part time for much of his career so he doesn't have as many miles on him as a lot of guys his age, and his performance the last three years suggest that he does stay in good shape and is your classic late bloomer. but this is also very likely his last big contract, so i'd be leery about giving him a 3 year contract, because his financial motivation to stay in top shape won't be there like it was the past 3 years.

[JeffH]

Anyone who has seen Bradley recently...

 

When he is healthy enough to take the field, is he a legitimate outfield defender, or is he like Cliff Floyd out there even when he's healthy?

[cubswin2009]

Surprised Bradley wants to play in Chicago after the whole Jacque Jones saga.

[weis21]

Surprised Bradley wants to play in Chicago after the whole Jacque Jones saga.

Why? Because they're both black?

[The Other 15]

Surprised Bradley wants to play in Chicago after the whole Jacque Jones saga.

Why? Because they're both black?

You're not aware that Jones had to endure racial slurs from some of the idiots at Wrigley on a daily basis for most of his stay with the Cubs?

 

Anyone who has seen Bradley recently...

 

When he is healthy enough to take the field, is he a legitimate outfield defender, or is he like Cliff Floyd out there even when he's healthy?

Everyone would love to have great defense with every player, but this is a team that had Alou and Sosa as corners and still had a lengthy playoff run. I have hard time believing that anyone can play RF worse than 2002-2004 Sosa.

[Jehrico]

Well, Bradley is a lot more appealing with DeRosa likely to be here. But I'm still not optimistic at all. Why we're not pursuing Dunn is beyond me.

It probably has to do with his asking price and his horrible defense.

 

A) We haveno idea what his asking price is

 

B) His defense isn't worse than most of the other candidates we've been hearing about

No, Dunn is a worse defender. The other options are bad too, but Dunn is easily the worse.

 

That said, I still want Dunn over the others. I have no confidence Bradley will be able to play more than 100 games if he's playing defense too.

[Jehrico]

If I had to guess, Bradley will prefer an NL team. Texas kind of hosed Bradley last year by making him DH most of the year, when he preferred to play in the field. By going to an NL team, he takes that DH option out of the hands of the team that signs him.

 

That's just my hunch.

 

Plus, if he takes injury factor into account, playing on grass in Wrigley is probably a better bet than playing on turf in Tampa.

If you take the injury factor in account, he wouldn't be playing on the turn in Tampa very much at all (DH).

[rawaction]

Surprised Bradley wants to play in Chicago after the whole Jacque Jones saga.

Why? Because they're both black?

You're not aware that Jones had to endure racial slurs from some of the idiots at Wrigley on a daily basis for most of his stay with the Cubs?

 

Jacque Jones was also terrible. Milton Bradley won't be.