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It's actually $5M, $9M and $12M in each season. And then a $4 million signing bonus. So we're paying him $5 million this season. If they gave him a $4m signing bonus and he makes $5m this year, he's getting paid $9m this year. There is no lsalary cap to worry about prorating bonuses over, so it's all about money spent each year compared to the budget. I wasn't sure how they counted the $4 million against this year's payroll. I know they prorate signing bonuses all the time in the NFL, but I thought I remembered some in the MLB as well. Of course, I guess Cot's would have mentioned that if it was the case.

When did this happen? He's been above average to great every year in the majors so far. JeffH is the king of hyperbole. Yeah, I know. Just figured I'd see if he'd explain his hyperbole a bit.

When did this happen? He's been above average to great every year in the majors so far.

It's actually $5M, $9M and $12M in each season. And then a $4 million signing bonus. So we're paying him $5 million this season.

They've already invested the money into him. Here are the numbers according to Cot's: 09:$5M, 10:$9M, 11:$12M option. He also got a $4 million signing bonus. The option vests if he plays in 75 games this season. Outside of his rookie year, there's only one season (2007) when he hasn't played at least 75 games.

I've heard it in other places as well, it seems especially prevalent among fans who hate how he either walks, ks or homers. But he is on the field, which helps. And that's why I wanted him in the offseason.

Even if they win the division, this team is not winning the World Series. Anything can happen if you just get to the postseason. I don't know that they will, but this team can win in the playoffs.

I've heard it in other places as well, it seems especially prevalent among fans who hate how he either walks, ks or homers.

Generally yes, the manager tells him to do it, especially if said player is the #3 hitter.

I do think the Ms would rather have Fox and a young pitcher than Branyan, but they would also prefer to have a better player than Fox and/or a better young pitcher than Hart/Wells. And that's the catch - a Fox/Hart offer really isn't that strong, so it's not like a team will have to overwhelm the Ms to top our deal. Branyan is also better than Huff, Mora, etc., so he'll likely garner more interest than them. And he'll also be a more cost effective option than guys like Holliday, Dunn, DeRosa and Blalock. Smaller market teams and teams without much to spend (like us) will go after Branyan before they go after high-priced guys.

You might have misread the conversation. I was disagreeing with chasin that Bradley didn't care because a couple of articles gave that idea. People have misconceptions of athletes all the time. Some have the misconception that Dunn doesn't care, some have it that Bradley doesn't care. Neither are right, in my opinion.

He didn't have to bring up at all that he slacked off some last year. The fact that he brought it up and then said what he did about the Cubs leads me to believe he's sincere. I think it's more comparable to a person with sick days calling into work when they are legitimately sick but could still work if they had to. I dont know, to me the cubs would have been better off with Adam Dunn. Bradley is much to fragile and or doesnt have the right character for this team. Sure he brings fire but he also brings that of someone who slacks off when he isint feeling great. Thats not what any team needs I think we'd have been better off with Dunn, but not because Bradley doesn't have the right character. Dunn's been accused of not caring in the past as well, keep in mind. I don't put much stock in articles that insinuate a player doesn't care.

I'd feel good about getting Branyan and a good reliever by the deadline. There's a chance Fox could be the "centerpiece" of the deal, but I think it would take more than just Hart to go with him after how well Branyan has been doing. The thing about Branyan is hes Russel Branyan and teams know that. Theyre not going to give up top prospects for him. Fox and Hart would probably be selling high on him. Hart is a guy who if he has a future in the majors it will be as a number 5 starter for a bad team, and Fox is a guy who the Mariners could try out at 1st base and see how it works, if not, he could be a DH for years to come. Branyan is 1 of those guys who will probably never spend more than more than 1 year on 1 team. hes a journeyman. If Aramis wasnt injured, Id have no interest in him, but at this time, hed be exactly the kind of stop gap we need. If they want another fringe prospect, so be it. I just feel that Branyan is not only the ideal guy for the situation the Cubs are in at this moment, but hes someone we could conceivably aquire sooner than later rather than waiting until the deadline for someone like Huff or Blalock who we hopefuly wouldnt need much longer. A quality reliever would likely cost more than Branyan, as that is what most teams are really looking for down the stretch. I would be interested in Branyan even if Aramis was healthy. He's a very good bat off the bench. And I don't think Fox/Hart is buying high on him. I'd even be willing to go Fox/Wells for him and I don't think that's really buying high. It's also why I think the Ms would hold out for more from another team if that were our offer. He's a valuable piece that will give you better than an .800 OPS from any corner spot. That's not worth a top prospect, but we're not coming close to a top prospect with either deal I've mentioned.

In August Soto posted a 1.010 OPS and in September and October he posted a .778 OPS. Terrific in August and decent in the final month is not that bad. Keep in mind Soto is only 26 and has shown to be very good in the majors. I'm willing to give him more time to re-adjust to major league pitching. "Done nothing in the majors" is not a very fair assessment. He hasn't been good this season, but he had a 131 OPS+ last year in limited time. He's playing pretty much every day now and is facing much more left handed pitching than he's used to. It's no real surprise that he's a little slow adjusting. I don't know if he'll pan out, but he has enough of a history of hitting in the minors that it's likely too early to give up. Care to elaborate on how he's tailing off? A .949 OPS over the course of the year and a .925 OPS over the past month is very good. The last couple weeks he's cooled a bit (.828 OPS last 14 days), but that's bound to happen. I don't see a pattern in a couple weeks of stats, though. That's Soriano. He's proven he'll be a good to very good left fielder when it's all said and done. No reason to be overly concerned about him - he's about the most sure thing to be good that you listed. 1.138 OPS over the past week. .746 over the past two weeks, but if anything that's a sign that he's starting to pick it up again after a short slump.

I'd feel good about getting Branyan and a good reliever by the deadline. There's a chance Fox could be the "centerpiece" of the deal, but I think it would take more than just Hart to go with him after how well Branyan has been doing.

He didn't have to bring up at all that he slacked off some last year. The fact that he brought it up and then said what he did about the Cubs leads me to believe he's sincere. I think it's more comparable to a person with sick days calling into work when they are legitimately sick but could still work if they had to.

I don't agree with that. Bradley hasn't shown anything to me that makes me think he doesn't care and if he's not hitting because he doesn't care, I have to ask why he hit so well the past few years. Mostly because of Arlington Without getting into another debate on Bradley's production potential, he's had OPS+s over .900 outside of Arlington. .923 in Cleveland and .947 between Oakland and San Diego. He can do it, and the wind blowing out of Wrigley in the summer can only help. Sure he can but he has to actually play And that's what I've said is my main concern with him. The production ought to be there if he's healthy. Whether he's healthy or not is anyone's guess.

I don't agree with that. Bradley hasn't shown anything to me that makes me think he doesn't care and if he's not hitting because he doesn't care, I have to ask why he hit so well the past few years. Mostly because of Arlington Without getting into another debate on Bradley's production potential, he's had OPS+s over .900 outside of Arlington. .923 in Cleveland and .947 between Oakland and San Diego. He can do it, and the wind blowing out of Wrigley in the summer can only help. i never said he couldn't do it. i said arlington is the main reason his stats were so juiced up last year. he had like an .870 OPS on the road. not saying that's bad or anything. I see now. If anything, Wrigley should move closer to Arlington as a hitter friendly park once the wind starts blowing out more consistently.

I don't agree with that. Bradley hasn't shown anything to me that makes me think he doesn't care and if he's not hitting because he doesn't care, I have to ask why he hit so well the past few years. ive been really skeptical after reading this, i dont want to believe it but i cant look at what he has done and make myself believe otherwise http://www.star-telegram.com/sports/story/1246127.html If you take the negative out of those comments, I think you have to take the positive as well. He did say he tends to sit out more often with less-than-major injuries, but he also said he was fully committed heading into his time with the Cubs. Going off that story, he indicates he does care this season because we made a long-term commitment.

I don't agree with that. Bradley hasn't shown anything to me that makes me think he doesn't care and if he's not hitting because he doesn't care, I have to ask why he hit so well the past few years. Mostly because of Arlington Without getting into another debate on Bradley's production potential, he's had OPS+s over .900 outside of Arlington. .923 in Cleveland and .947 between Oakland and San Diego. He can do it, and the wind blowing out of Wrigley in the summer can only help.

Bradley's option for 2011 vests if he plays 75 games this year. He's at 38 right now. The likelihood is still that he reaches it, I'd say. If he doesn't, it won't bode well for the overall offensive production.

Yes hendry has but everything ive read is that his hands are tied by the sale so even if he could, he very well might not be able to Bullpen arms generally aren't that expensive. And there might be payroll he can shed somewhere if he needs it for a certain player.

I don't agree with that. Bradley hasn't shown anything to me that makes me think he doesn't care and if he's not hitting because he doesn't care, I have to ask why he hit so well the past few years.

As long as this team is only 4 games out of first, there's still a chance to win the division. As long as they win the division (or make the playoffs at all), they have a chance to win the World Series. The team is not playing very well right now, no. But the offense must pick up at some point and the rotation will likely improve as Dempster's results begin to match his peripherals and Z and Harden get/stay healthy/unsuspended. The bullpen is a major concern, but there are always good bullpen arms available and Hendry has shown the ability to make good to very good deadline deals for needs. Right now this team isn't very good, but it has the most potential for improvement of any team in the majors right now.

As much as I liked Bradley's production potential, his injuries were too much for me. I wasn't a big Ibanez fan either, though. I wanted Dunn. who completely destroys the ball at Wrigley Field, i havent seen many players hit home runs as far as he can seriously they sounded the sirens once and evacuated he hit them so far http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=odk0k1Updok The only concern I had about Dunn was his defense, but I felt like if Bradley missed his usual amount of time (60+ games) that Dunn would be better for the duration than whoever went out to right field when Bradley wasn't there. I still really want Bradley to prove me wrong, though.