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Cubs Fri Dec 18 2009
Cubs Finally Rid Themselves of Bradley
Cubs General Manager has found a home for the misfit outfielder known as Milton Bradley. The Seattle Mariners have agreed to trade Carlos Silva to the Cubs for Bradley. Silva has an equally huge contract that the Mariners wanted to rid themselves of.
The numbers haven't been announced as far as how much of Bradley's contract the Cubs will have to eat, but it now frees up money for Jim Hendry to finish his off season shopping. The Cubs are still in the market for a center fielder. There have been reports of them going after free agent center fielder Marlon Byrd, formally of the Texas Rangers.
Silva has been less than stellar over the past few seasons, he posted a 6.40 ERA in 2008 and 8.60 ERA last season. That is in addition to his 1.70 WHIP. Silva hasn't been in the National League since 2003 when he was with the Phillies. Perhaps a change of league will do that ERA of his some good. He did post his best ERA in 2002 a 3.21 with the Phillies.
While trying to deal Bradley the Cubs missed out on a number of good free agents and possible trades. There was talk the Cubs were looking to acquire Curtis Granderson from the Detroit Tigers, but trying to deal Bradley proved difficult and Granderson is now a member of the Yankees. Detroit was also asking the for quite a lot in return for Granderson, which also probably factored into the decision not to trade for him.
Mike Cameron also got away as he signed with the Red Sox earlier this week. Had the Cubs not been bogged down by Bradley they may have been able to sign him to be the center fielder for 2010. Personally I wouldn't have wanted Cameron due to the fact that he is 36 years old and not getting any younger.
It will be interesting to see what Jim Hendry has up his sleeve now that he has over come his biggest over season obstacle.
