How about this Solution to the Bradley Mess?

[CUBZ99]

fwiw - I've heard some speculation from a few sources that several teams will be interested in Bradley this offseason. I think the market for him may be better than some think.

 

I agree, its not like he is coming off of a horrible year and his contract of 2/21 is not that bad for a 800+ OPS OFer.

[Backtobanks]

fwiw - I've heard some speculation from a few sources that several teams will be interested in Bradley this offseason. I think the market for him may be better than some think.

 

I agree, its not like he is coming off of a horrible year and his contract of 2/21 is not that bad for a 800+ OPS OFer.

 

 

The problem is that the other teams think Hendry is going to give them Bradley and pay $17-$18 million of his contract. I think Bradley is totally crazy, but I might think about acquiring him for a low prospect and 90% of his contract paid.

[RedFlash]

fwiw - I've heard some speculation from a few sources that several teams will be interested in Bradley this offseason. I think the market for him may be better than some think.

 

I agree, its not like he is coming off of a horrible year and his contract of 2/21 is not that bad for a 800+ OPS OFer.

 

 

The problem is that the other teams think Hendry is going to give them Bradley and pay $17-$18 million of his contract. I think Bradley is totally crazy, but I might think about acquiring him for a low prospect and 90% of his contract paid.

 

The Cubs should not give Bradley away. If the Cubs are going to pay 90% of Bradley's contract, I want either one really good prospects, or two solid prospects. If the Cubs can get a solid Kyler Burke esque prospect in return for Bradley and little contract paid, then so be it. Besides only 2010 is guarantee left on Bradley's contract. There are alot of incentives for 2011 to become guarantee. So the Cubs should haven't to pay any more then 50% of what's owed in 2010. The acquiring team should be on the hook for all of 2011.

[A-Cal]

Report: Padres would consider Bradley trade

 

Padres general manager Kevin Towers indicated Friday that he's open to working a trade for the Cubs' Milton Bradley this offseason.

"I haven't had any calls from Jim [Hendry] about him," Towers told ESPN.com. "But I think people kind of know what players we target. We have to take chances sometimes." The Padres have a decent outfield of youngsters, but the relaxed atmosphere in San Diego could help Bradley flourish and revitalize his career. He hit .313/.414/.590 in 42 games there in 2007. Sep. 25 - 7:16 pm et

Source: ESPN.com

 

i wonder what we could get from San Diego?

 

eckstein?!

[erik316wttn]

Report: Padres would consider Bradley trade

 

Padres general manager Kevin Towers indicated Friday that he's open to working a trade for the Cubs' Milton Bradley this offseason.

"I haven't had any calls from Jim [Hendry] about him," Towers told ESPN.com. "But I think people kind of know what players we target. We have to take chances sometimes." The Padres have a decent outfield of youngsters, but the relaxed atmosphere in San Diego could help Bradley flourish and revitalize his career. He hit .313/.414/.590 in 42 games there in 2007. Sep. 25 - 7:16 pm et

Source: ESPN.com

 

i wonder what we could get from San Diego?

 

eckstein?!

 

Let's start at Adrian Gonzalez and work from there.

[CUBZ99]

From Ken Rosenthal via MLBTR

 

Teams have already called the Cubs about Milton Bradley. The Giants, Padres, Rangers, Rays, and Mets are among the clubs with possible interest. The Cubs are confident they can deal Bradley without paying the overwhelming majority of the $21MM still owed to him over the next two years. They could either trade Bradley's bad contract for another bad contract, or use the old sliding scale of "the more money we pay, the better the players we get in return."

[BCVM22]

Let's start at Adrian Gonzalez and work from there.

 

I nominate Adrian Gonzalez as the desired but inevitably failed trade target for the 2009-2010 offseason.

[muntjack]

Where would Gonzalez play exactly? I have an original nomination......Adam Dunn!!! Seems like he would make a lot of sense (again). The Nats need pitching as always.

[NCCubFan]

Let's start at Adrian Gonzalez and work from there.

 

I nominate Adrian Gonzalez as the desired but inevitably failed trade target for the 2009-2010 offseason.

Sorry; but Jose Reyes has already gotten that nomination.

[Little Slide Rooter]

From Ken Rosenthal via MLBTR

 

Teams have already called the Cubs about Milton Bradley. The Giants, Padres, Rangers, Rays, and Mets are among the clubs with possible interest. The Cubs are confident they can deal Bradley without paying the overwhelming majority of the $21MM still owed to him over the next two years. They could either trade Bradley's bad contract for another bad contract, or use the old sliding scale of "the more money we pay, the better the players we get in return."

 

Question isnt who wants him, question is what do they have to offer. I cant see any top prospects comin in return, and as it says, we'll have to settle for another bad contract:

 

Giants: Aaron Rowand-hed basically be a really expensive Reed Johnson

Padres: On the off chance we could get Adrian Gonzalez, were giving up a ton of prospects in addition to MB. Chris Young-has been brought up, and be better thn nothing

Rangers: Michael Young? Ive always liked him, but he has an ugly contract. Maybe Josh Hamilton? I dont know if they want to move him, but Id glarly take him.

Rays: Pat Burrell? Hed basically Jake Fox, a DH in the NL. However, as its been stated before, they say the'll move Upton or Crawford if the price is right, and Id gladly give up MB+ a nice prospect package for either guy. In fact if we could get either, I migh be inclined to forgive Jim Hendry for 2009.

Mets: Reyes is just spec, and I cant see it happening. The main name brought up from them is Oliver Perez, and he comes with a big fat DO NOT WANT sign around his neck.

[daske17]

From Ken Rosenthal via MLBTR

 

Teams have already called the Cubs about Milton Bradley. The Giants, Padres, Rangers, Rays, and Mets are among the clubs with possible interest. The Cubs are confident they can deal Bradley without paying the overwhelming majority of the $21MM still owed to him over the next two years. They could either trade Bradley's bad contract for another bad contract, or use the old sliding scale of "the more money we pay, the better the players we get in return."

 

Question isnt who wants him, question is what do they have to offer. I cant see any top prospects comin in return, and as it says, we'll have to settle for another bad contract:

 

Giants: Aaron Rowand-hed basically be a really expensive Reed Johnson

Padres: On the off chance we could get Adrian Gonzalez, were giving up a ton of prospects in addition to MB. Chris Young-has been brought up, and be better thn nothing

Rangers: Michael Young? Ive always liked him, but he has an ugly contract. Maybe Josh Hamilton? I dont know if they want to move him, but Id glarly take him.

Rays: Pat Burrell? Hed basically Jake Fox, a DH in the NL. However, as its been stated before, they say the'll move Upton or Crawford if the price is right, and Id gladly give up MB+ a nice prospect package for either guy. In fact if we could get either, I migh be inclined to forgive Jim Hendry for 2009.

Mets: Reyes is just spec, and I cant see it happening. The main name brought up from them is Oliver Perez, and he comes with a big fat DO NOT WANT sign around his neck.

 

I would love nothing more than see MB deal with New York press. Just when he thought Chicago media was bad...

[Backtobanks]

From Ken Rosenthal via MLBTR

 

Teams have already called the Cubs about Milton Bradley. The Giants, Padres, Rangers, Rays, and Mets are among the clubs with possible interest. The Cubs are confident they can deal Bradley without paying the overwhelming majority of the $21MM still owed to him over the next two years. They could either trade Bradley's bad contract for another bad contract, or use the old sliding scale of "the more money we pay, the better the players we get in return."

 

Question isnt who wants him, question is what do they have to offer. I cant see any top prospects comin in return, and as it says, we'll have to settle for another bad contract:

 

Giants: Aaron Rowand-hed basically be a really expensive Reed Johnson

MB has been a really expensive Reed Johnson this year and Bradley's career numbers aren't much different than Rowands. Also, moving to Wrigley could help Rowand's numbers.

Padres: On the off chance we could get Adrian Gonzalez, were giving up a ton of prospects in addition to MB. Chris Young-has been brought up, and be better thn nothing

Where would Adrian Gonzalez play? Chris Young would be better than nothing if he recovers. We don't want a really expensive Chad Fox.

Rangers: Michael Young? Ive always liked him, but he has an ugly contract. Maybe Josh Hamilton? I dont know if they want to move him, but Id glarly take him.

You're right about Young - horrible contract. There's no way we could get Josh Hamilton.

Rays: Pat Burrell? Hed basically Jake Fox, a DH in the NL. However, as its been stated before, they say the'll move Upton or Crawford if the price is right, and Id gladly give up MB+ a nice prospect package for either guy. In fact if we could get either, I migh be inclined to forgive Jim Hendry for 2009.

No to Burrell for the reasons you mentioned. I think the price for Crawford will be utterly ridiculous, but Uptown will be overpriced too.

Mets: Reyes is just spec, and I cant see it happening. The main name brought up from them is Oliver Perez, and he comes with a big fat DO NOT WANT sign around his neck.

AMEN!

[inari]

You can't really believe that Milton Bradley isn't a heck of a lot better than Reed Johnson and Aaron Rowand.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Carl Crawford is one of those players who is worth giving up a lot for. Hes basiclly everything that Corey Patterson was supposed to become. Upton has that upside as well.

[mhuber92211]

I still think the Angels are the place to go to for Milton. Aybar would be nice but that is just silly wishing. A deal for Gary Matthews Jr is not that far off.

[Tarver]

From Ken Rosenthal via MLBTR

 

Giants: Aaron Rowand-hed basically be a really expensive Reed Johnson

MB has been a really expensive Reed Johnson this year and Bradley's career numbers aren't much different than Rowands.

 

Please.

[Tarver]

I still think the Angels are the place to go to for Milton. Aybar would be nice but that is just silly wishing. A deal for Gary Matthews Jr is not that far off.

 

I think I'd rather have Pierre.

[Backtobanks]

You can't really believe that Milton Bradley isn't a heck of a lot better than Reed Johnson and Aaron Rowand.

 

From Ken Rosenthal via MLBTR

 

Giants: Aaron Rowand-hed basically be a really expensive Reed Johnson

MB has been a really expensive Reed Johnson this year and Bradley's career numbers aren't much different than Rowands.

 

Please.

 

If you look up the career stats (which I posted earlier), you will see Rowand and Bradley are pretty much the same. According to baseballreference.com the 6th most similar batter to Bradley is none other than Aaron Rowand (#5 is superstar Eric Byrnes and #7 is all-star Austin Kearns). Through age 30 Rowand is the 9th most similar to Bradley. My point is that Bradley isn't the "great" hitter everybody is making him out to be. Factoring in his defense, injury history, and mental issues and you certainly have nothing extraordinary. Putting Rowand in Wrigley could help his production, while it didn't do much for Bradley. My comment about Reed Johnson was just a response to an earlier comment about Rowand being an expensive Johnson.

[Backtobanks]

From MLBTR:

•Ken Davidoff of Newsday thinks the Braves will shop Derek Lowe in the offseason. Lowe is owed $15MM per year through 2012

 

Maybe an expanded deal centering on Bradley and Lowe?

[17 Seconds]

 

If you look up the career stats (which I posted earlier), you will see Rowand and Bradley are pretty much the same.

 

No, they aren't.

 

Bradley- Career 116 OPS+

Rowand- Career 102 OPS+

 

It's really not even close.

[17 Seconds]

From MLBTR:

•Ken Davidoff of Newsday thinks the Braves will shop Derek Lowe in the offseason. Lowe is owed $15MM per year through 2012

 

Maybe an expanded deal centering on Bradley and Lowe?

 

Oh god no. Lowe sucks and has an awful contract

[Transmogrified Tiger]

From MLBTR:

•Ken Davidoff of Newsday thinks the Braves will shop Derek Lowe in the offseason. Lowe is owed $15MM per year through 2012

 

Maybe an expanded deal centering on Bradley and Lowe?

 

Oh god no. Lowe sucks and has an awful contract

 

Derek Lowe is very good. Not sure it makes much sense to add him to this team though. I guess if you can add a guy of his talent while trying to give away Bradley that might be as good as you can get. Just trade him or Lilly or something afterwards.

[17 Seconds]

From MLBTR:

•Ken Davidoff of Newsday thinks the Braves will shop Derek Lowe in the offseason. Lowe is owed $15MM per year through 2012

 

Maybe an expanded deal centering on Bradley and Lowe?

 

Oh god no. Lowe sucks and has an awful contract

 

Derek Lowe is very good.

 

i don't see how you think that. he's been terrible this season.

 

4.55 ERA, 1.48 WHIP, 217 hits in 184 innings, etc.

 

his k's have also plummeted since he went to atlanta. he has been awful this year and his numbers away from dodger stadium werent that good over his last 3 seasons in la (WHIPs of 1.38, 1.31, and 1.34 away from dodger stadium from 06-08)

 

oh, and he's also 36 years old.

 

how is he really good?

[TruffleShuffle]

his FIP is below 4 this year, he stays healthy, eats a lot of innings and gets a lot of ground balls. his babip against was around .290 in a dodger uniform; this year it's .331. he's been okay this year and he's been unlucky/victimized by bad defense.

[17 Seconds]

his FIP is below 4 this year, he stays healthy, eats a lot of innings and gets a lot of ground balls. his babip against was around .290 in a dodger uniform; this year it's .331. he's been okay this year and he's been unlucky/victimized by bad defense.

 

he's also 36, declining, and has a huge contract. the enormous drop in k's this season is pretty telling also. as for the "stays healthy, eats a lot of innings and gets a lot of ground balls", well, you don't pay 15 million a year for that for a guy under contract until age 39. you could say those same things about crappy pitchers anyways, like jason marquis.

 

either way, i don't see how you can possible make the argument that he's "really good" when you consider his age and the season he's having. he'd have to bounce back in a huge way next season for that, and at age 36 he's much more likely to continue this decline than turn it around.