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This afternoon, the Cubs signed *Milton Bradley* to a three-year, $30 million contract with some incentives.
Bradley, 31 in April, had a monster year for the Rangers as he batted .321 with 22 homers for the Texas Rangers while leading the American League with a .436 on-base percentage. He was primarily used as DH, but he spent only 165 innings in the field. Obviously playing in the NL, he will have to play in the field and he has been injury prone throughout his career.
As well, he’s gained some unwanted notoriety for his temper, but aside from a skirmish with a broadcaster, he was trouble-free in 2008.
This is the first multiyear deal of his career. If he stays healthy, the switch-hitter will give the Cubs balance in the middle of their order.
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It looks like the Rays have stocked up on talent now — they’ve got Pat Burrell from the Phillies.
The Tampa Bay Rays added a big bat for the middle of their batting order, agreeing to a $16 million, two-year contract with Pat Burrell.
The 32-year-old spent the past nine seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies, who defeated the Rays in the World Series a little over two months ago.
He hit .250 with 33 homers, 33 doubles and 86 RBIs last season and has averaged 31 homers, 99 RBIs and 103 walks over the past four seasons. A left fielder throughout his career, Burrell is expected to be used mostly as the designated hitter with Tampa Bay.
One of the Rays’ top priorities was to add a right-handed power hitter to a lineup also featuring Carlos Pena, Evan Longoria, B.J. Upton and Carl Crawford.
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With the uncertainty in the economy, and with teams watching the bottom line closely (excluding the Yankees), one has to wonder how business will be conducted from here on out both on the field and in the stands.
Love or hate him — ESPN’s Peter Gammons has a great piece on his blog about the future of baseball, player development, the new economy and young players. With most teams focusing these days more on development, drafting, and building a team through trades, most organizations are steering away from signing old, costly, has-been veterans.
In fact, it looks like the Jay Payton’s of the world will have a hard time finding work unless they are willing to sign a minor league deal or a minimum MLB deal.
It seems that the young player is now being given a lot of attention opposed to signing high-priced free agents, except in a few instances. The new reality of building a team, not only comes from the success of the Rays, Twins and Marlins, but perhaps because of the sinking American economy. Read the rest of this entry »
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On Sunday, the MLB Network premiered, and that being said, I spent about two hours watching it; thus, so far, so good.
I have no idea what to expect from the network (it’s only been on-air for four hours), but the sets look incredible, and I’m glad to see Harold Reynolds back on the small screen. I’d expect to find myself watching the network almost daily, especially during the dinner hours; however, it will take some time for me to ween off the Worldwide Sports Leader’s “Baseball Tonight” when the action heats up in a few months.
I’m sure as the season comes upon us, the network will have more coverage than anyone can imagine, and the analysis should rival anything out there — perfectly evident with the analysis of Jackie Robinson’s steal of home in the ‘55 Fall Classic with Al Leiter, Reynolds, Barry Larkin and Jimmy Rollins (special guest) on the “Hot Stove Show”. In addition, I also liked hearing the interview with Josh Hamilton with Al Leiter — it was a great chat with a lot of perspective with the slugger who dazzled the sports world during the ‘08 All Star Game. Read the rest of this entry »
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It looks like Barry Bonds wants to be a part of baseball — again.
Facing a March trial on charges of lying to a federal grand jury and obstructing justice in the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative case, Barry Bonds must first recuperate from hip surgery. The San Francisco Chronicle reported that Bonds, who has said he is not retiring and wants to play baseball again, underwent a hip procedure.
Bonds had the surgery with the intent of resuming his playing career this year, the Chronicle reported, citing a source familiar with the operation. With the start of spring training six weeks away, baseball’s home run king would not be fully healed by then but could be by Opening Day, the Chronicle reported. Read the rest of this entry »
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Jeff Moorad resigned as Arizona Diamondbacks chief executive officer and says he has reached an agreement in principle to buy the San Diego Padres.
Moorad said he heads a “small but significant” group of investors that has an exclusive right to complete the specifics of negotiations with Padres owner John Moores.
Moorad said he hopes the transaction can be completed in the next three months. The sale has to be approved as well as Moores’ wife, Becky, who is going through a divorce with her husband, John.
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Wow, how far Andrew Jones has fallen. In the past few years, he’s gone from being a premier slugger who created dazzling plays to a shell of his old self.
The Los Angeles Dodgers have agreed to trade or release Andruw Jones in exchange for his deferring much of the $22 million remaining on his contract, a baseball source told the Los Angeles Times on Friday. The deal is expected to shave $12 million from the Dodgers’ 2009 payroll and cut Jones’ salary next season to about $5 million.
If the Dodgers can’t trade him, Jones can ask for his release before spring training, the source said. The Dodgers signed the five-time All-Star last winter, and he batted just .158 with three home runs in 75 games.
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The Chicago Cubs and infielder Aaron Miles agreed on a two-year, $4.9 million contract this week.
Miles, a switch-hitter, batted .317 with four homers and 31 RBIs in 134 games for the Cardinals last season.
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Cleveland acquired infielder Mark DeRosa in a trade that sent three minor leaguers to Chicago. The Indians traded pitchers Jeff Stevens, Chris Archer and John Gaub for DeRosa, who will likely slide into Cleveland’s opening at third base.
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Free-agent reliever Brian Fuentes and the Los Angeles Angels reached agreement on a two-year, $17.5 million deal, giving the American League West champions a replacement for closer Francisco Rodriguez.
Fuentes will get $8.5 million next season and $9 million in 2010. There’s a club option for $9 million in 2011.
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Reading the information super-highway the other day, I caught that Sammy Sosa — a member of the 600 home run club — was looking for a return to the Major Leagues.
The slugger who excited the world of baseball with his home run hitting ability, unabashed love for the game, and his infectious smile brought joy not only to Cubs fans in the 1990’s, but to the world of baseball.
Furthermore, many credit him and Mark McGwire for rekindling the interest of the sport to fans and admirers alike; however, all the goodwill he had built up went pretty much down the toilet after his appearance on Capitol Hill years ago.
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It looks like Kevin Youkilis is going to play in the World Baseball Classic.
He will accept an invitation to play for Team USA, The Boston Globe reported.
He will join his Red Sox teammate — second baseman Dustin Pedroia, this year’s American League Most Valuable Player — also who will be on the team.
Others who have reportedly committed to playing for Team USA include Derek Jeter of the Yankees, David Wright of the Mets, Brian McCann and Chipper Jones of the Braves, Grady Sizemore of the Indians and John Lackey of the Angels. Former Orioles player and manager Davey Johnson is the U.S. team’s manager.
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After some dialogue with the A’s over the winter break, The Bug Unit is going to the Bay — however, not to Oakland.
Randy Johnson, five wins shy of 300, will pitch his 22nd major-league season for the Giants after agreeing a one-year, $8 million deal.
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The team said bleacher seats for exhibition games at its new stadium against the Cubs on April 3 and 4 will go for 25 cents, while grandstand tickets will be $1.10. That matches the prices for the opener of the original Yankee Stadium against Boston on April 18, 1923.
It’s a nice gesture, but those that dull the reality as how to much games in the new stadium will really cost?
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Ugh.
Roger Clemens’ former personal trainer filed paperwork preserving the right to sue the seven-time Cy Young Award winner in New York.
Brian McNamee, who told federal investigators that Clemens used performance-enhancing drugs, contends the pitcher defamed him after McNamee spoke to investigators for former Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell.
