The long-awaited announcement that enigmatic outfielder Milton Bradley has signed a three-year contract with the Cubs could come Thursday.
The Cubs said Monday that Bradley is expected in town this week for a physical, a precursor to finalizing a deal believed to be comparable to the three-year, $30 million contract outfielder Raul Ibanez signed with Philadelphia last month. Injuries have kept Bradley, 30, from playing more than 101 games in all but two of his seven full seasons in the majors, and his new contract is believed to contain language that protects the team on the back end of the deal if Bradley misses significant playing time on the front end.
Bradley's history of temper flare-ups could be cause for as much concern as the injury history, and it already has been a major cause for the fact he's joining his seventh team in 10 seasons.
His list of altercations includes a 2004 incident in which he threw a water bottle at fans, resulting in a league suspension; a run-in with an umpire near the end of the 2007 season that was so vigorous, restraining him resulted in a knee injury; and a confrontation last year with a broadcaster he perceived as critical.
If Bradley is with the Cubs for the duration of his contract, it will mark his longest stretch with any team.
Completion of the deal has been on hold for weeks as the Cubs worked to shed space in their 2009 payroll, a process that included last week's trade of Mark DeRosa ($5.5 million) to Cleveland for three pitching prospects, along with the related signing of infielder Aaron Miles ($2.2 million in '09 as part of a two-year deal).
The most significant part of the salary-clearing process is expected to be completed today with the trade of starting pitcher Jason Marquis ($9.875 million) to Colorado for reliever Luis Vizcaino ($4 million guaranteed left on his contract). The Cubs are including $875,000 in cash in that deal, netting a $5 million savings.
Bradley, a switch hitter, hit .321 with career highs of 22 home runs and 77 RBI in 126 games for the Texas Rangers last season, when he earned his first All-Star appearance and led the American League with a .999 OPS. He has been the Cubs' top target since the general managers meetings two months ago and would give them the run-producing, left-handed bat they covet.
Versatile enough to play all three outfield positions, Bradley is expected to play primarily right field and figures to bat fourth or fifth. Knee and quadriceps injuries limited him to 20 games in the field (19 in right, one in left) last season, when he played 97 games as the designated hitter.
Comment at suntimes.com.
The Milton Bradley file
Full Name: Milton Obelle Bradley Jr.
Born: April 15, 1978, in Harbor City, Calif.
Ht: 6-0.
Wt: 225.
Bats: Switch.
Throws: Right.
Position: Outfielder.
Contract: 3 years, $30 million.
2008 statistics
Previous teams
Montreal Expos (2000-2001), Cleveland Indians (2001-2003), Los Angeles Dodgers (2004-2005), Oakland Athletics (2006-2007), San Diego Padres (2007), Texas Rangers (2008)
