One of the worst kept secrets of the 08-09 Cubs offseason was the Cubs interest in DH/OF Milton Bradley. Today the Cubs made it official…Another domino has fallen as the Cubs head toward 2009. According to ESPN 1000’s Bruce Levine, Milton Bradley has signed a 3 year/$30 million deal. Bradley becomes the Cubs everyday rightfielder. He comes to Cubs coming off a great season with the Rangers. He brings some baggage as well. Now the debate amongst Cub fans will begin.
FOXSports.com’s Ken Rosenthal on how the Cubs plan to use Bradley:
The Cubs, who plan to use Bradley in right field, are mindful of his injury history. They plan to occasionally spell him with Kosuke Fukudome, and Fukudome also will alternate with Reed Johnson in center field.
The Milton Bradley era begins
Two concerns over Bradley seem to be giving angst to some over the Cubs acquiring what may be one of the more complete ballplayers the Cubs have ever signed, and I think a little perspective over these issues is in order.
It hard to project a player will become injured if he presently is healthy and when determining if Bradley is worth that risk, let’s not forget that many a Cub fan were more than willing to gamble on one of the most injury prone positions in baseball, the pitcher.
I like many was sad to see K. Wood leave town, but can anyone who screamed about his departure say that Wood would have a better chance of staying healthy than Bradley? While Wood’s departure leaves the bullpen somewhat suspect, Marmol appears capable of closing on a high level.
The Cubs had a much more pressing need addressing the lineups balance and providing some significant production from a LHB. Bradley will cost the Cubs no more than it would have for them to retain Wood and Bradley was the most complete FA available.
The other issue concerning many over the signing of Bradley is his anger issues. To this I say, a bat-shit crazy competitor like Bradley, is just the type of player this team of miss congeniality finalists need to prevent another sleep walk through the playoffs.
I understand everyone’s personality isn’t the same and a player can certainly be competitive and not be demonstrable. Still one has to wonder when what seems like a perfectly sound manager like Piniella, makes a game one boneheaded pitching decision two post seasons in a row, the game one starter walks 7 batters in 4 innings compared to walking only 9 batters in the whole month of September, every infielder has an error in the same game and a prolific hitting team collectively goes into the tank, that the pressure of the post season got to them.
Bradley doesn’t just sit there at mope when he or his teammates don’t produce and it costs the team a win, he gets pissed. Isn’t this what we hired Piniella for anyway? But having one of the better players do it, carries more weight.
Lets face it, these players make millions playing a game most of us would give our left nut to play, and if they are so sensitive that they can’t take a little heat during the regular season, how in the hell are they going to handle the pressure of the post season.