Milton Bradley Traded To Mariners For Carlos Silva

[Backtobanks]

Foxsports:

 

 

CHICAGO - The idea, while described as a longshot, is at least one way for the Cubs to trade outfielder Milton Bradley.

 

Bradley to the Blue Jays. First baseman Lyle Overbay to the Mets. Second baseman Luis Castillo to the Cubs.

The teams have discussed the framework of such a deal, though not in direct fashion, according to major-league sources. The Cubs spoke to the Mets about Bradley-for-Castillo, while the Mets spoke to the Jays about Bradley-for-Overbay, sources say.

 

The Rays, however, remain the team most interested in Bradley, sources say, proposing a Pat Burrell-for-Bradley trade. Burrell and Bradley each will make $9 million in 2010. The Cubs would need to pick up a significant portion of Bradley's $12 million salary in �11 for a deal to work.

[Guest]

Yay. Just shoot me in the head if the Cubs trade Milton Bradley for Luis Castillo.

[davell]

I'm not a Castillo fan, by any means, but if we made that deal and didn't have to pay any money out, I don't think I'd be all that upset. Castillo is owed 2-12 at this point and it would free up a little money for us, while actually upgrading a current spot as well.(Mainly because I don't see us playing Baker at 2B everyday).

 

To me, it's better than trading Bradley for Burrell and sending money to Tampa AND then trading Burrell back to an AL team while most likely eating more money and not having filled a single hole in the process.

[CubbieBum]

I'm not a Castillo fan, by any means, but if we made that deal and didn't have to pay any money out, I don't think I'd be all that upset. Castillo is owed 2-12 at this point and it would free up a little money for us, while actually upgrading a current spot as well.(Mainly because I don't see us playing Baker at 2B everyday).

 

To me, it's better than trading Bradley for Burrell and sending money to Tampa AND then trading Burrell back to an AL team while most likely eating more money and not having filled a single hole in the process.

 

Good way to think about it. If we can trade Bradley without taking on much salary I'm for it. We can then use that money to go and get a player as good as Bradley without the headache.

[Shilzzz]

a castillo/baker platoon wouldn't kill anyone. pricey, yes, but it'd be about as productive as any other option at this point.

[Rob]

If I hadn't looked up Castillo's fielding stats last season, I might have been all over this. Now I dont know what to think...

[Shilzzz]

yeah, ouch. a -9.3 UZR in 08 and a -12 this year. nevermind. pass

 

edit: his LD% this year looks like a big anomaly, too. that .338 BABIP is going to come back to earth next year. to add to that, his BABIP v LHP, which is where they'd platoon him i assume, was a whopping .366. ha.

[davell]

I've not paid a ton of attention to defensive metrics honestly. I know UZR has it's downfalls, but it IS a pretty decent way to judge by, correct?

[Little Slide Rooter]

a castillo/baker platoon wouldn't kill anyone. pricey, yes, but it'd be about as productive as any other option at this point.

 

Id be more for Baker/Fontenot platoon, or even Baker full time and get something usefull for Bradley. I dont have an opinion on Castillo either weay, but we have 2 obvious needs, and outfielder, and a starter. We have 4 solid middle infielders+Aaron Miles.

[Halman]

We have 4 solid middle infielders+Aaron Miles.

 

who are these mythical solid MI's? I count two servicable 2Bs, a couple end of the bench iowa express guys and aaron miles.

[CUBZ99]

This trade would be a best case scenario. If the Cubs could get Castillo without eating any of Bradley's salary, I would do it in an instant.

[Little Slide Rooter]

We have 4 solid middle infielders+Aaron Miles.

 

who are these mythical solid MI's? I count two servicable 2Bs, a couple end of the bench iowa express guys and aaron miles.

 

Baker, Fontenot, Theriot, Blanco.

[UMFan83]

Comcast talking about this as well.

[Hall7810]

I guess the only good thing would be no stupid 5/60 contract to Figgins.

[Shilzzz]

This trade would be a best case scenario. If the Cubs could get Castillo without eating any of Bradley's salary, I would do it in an instant.

 

Any particular reasons?

[Post Count Padder]

Not a huge Castillo fan but it wouldn't be a horrible trade. It does free up money and a Baker/Castillo platoon at second isn't bad offensively. Defensively though...

 

Still, I'd rather do this than for Burrell or a bad middle reliever.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Even with the poor defense, Castillo was worth his contract last year. On his defense, his ErrR didn't change much at all over the last several years, but his range went in the tank as soon as he became a Met. I wonder if there's some externality behind some of that steep regression. The problem with platooning him is that he is a switch hitter with a big contract, so Lou will probably want to send him out there every day. There's also the matter that he doesn't have much of a consistent platoon split, so you may not even be maximizing his value by platooning him with Baker. I don't know how I feel about this, at this point in the offseason I feel like we could do better for Bradley.

[BRASKYS SCOTCH]

Even with the poor defense, Castillo was worth his contract last year. On his defense, his ErrR didn't change much at all over the last several years, but his range went in the tank as soon as he became a Met. I wonder if there's some externality behind some of that steep regression. The problem with platooning him is that he is a switch hitter with a big contract, so Lou will probably want to send him out there every day. There's also the matter that he doesn't have much of a consistent platoon split, so you may not even be maximizing his value by platooning him with Baker. I don't know how I feel about this, at this point in the offseason I feel like we could do better for Bradley.

 

 

Yeah, but what are the chances Hendry sits on anything that doesn't force the Cubs to eat the lion's share of MB's contract? Factor in a productive "name" like Castillo that GM's talk themselves into - at least ours - plus switch-hitting capability and top-of-the-order possibility ... if this has legs I don't think it will be passed upon.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Have you ever had a gift card to a particular store, and there was nothing you really wanted, but you still felt like you had to spend the gift card right now rather than wait for something you really wanted?

[SouthSideRyan]

I guess the only good thing would be no stupid 5/60 contract to Figgins.

 

We'll still need a CF.

[biittner77]

I guess the only good thing would be no stupid 5/60 contract to Figgins.

 

We'll still need a CF.

 

Sign Cameron.

 

That makes the lineup

 

Fukudome

Castillo

Lee

Ramirez

Cameron

Soriano

Soto

Theriot

[CUBZ99]

This trade would be a best case scenario. If the Cubs could get Castillo without eating any of Bradley's salary, I would do it in an instant.

 

Any particular reasons?

 

Mainly because I was expecting the Cubs to eat most of Bradley's contract in order to just unload him. Castillo is not a terrific return, but his contract would allow the Cubs to save about $9MM over two years. Plus, we all have read by now that Hendry is in the market for a speedy leadoff hitter. I can think of many worse option than Castillo.

[SouthSideRyan]

I guess the only good thing would be no stupid 5/60 contract to Figgins.

 

We'll still need a CF.

 

Sign Cameron.

 

That makes the lineup

 

Fukudome

Castillo

Lee

Ramirez

Cameron

Soriano

Soto

Theriot

 

I'm not saying I want Figgins signed to 5/70, just being realistic.

[Little Slide Rooter]

9:01pm: The Chicago Tribune's Paul Sullivan is reporting that Toronto "wants no part of Milton Bradley." Meanwhile, Cubs GM Jim Hendry said that Chicago hasn't given up on Bradley, according to MLB.com's Scott Merkin. Of course, Hendry has to say that until the moment Bradley is traded.

 

Looks like this is about to be shot down anyway, along with and Bradley package for Halladay talk.

[Cubswin11]

We have 4 solid middle infielders+Aaron Miles.

 

who are these mythical solid MI's? I count two servicable 2Bs, a couple end of the bench iowa express guys and aaron miles.

 

Baker, Fontenot, Theriot, Blanco.

If by solid you mean league average at best the yes we have 4 solid MI. With Baker being the only one who might perform at an acceptable rate on a $130+ mil. payroll team.