According to reports on XM Radio and from Bruce Levine on ESPN 1000, the Cubs have agreed to a 3-year deal with Milton Bradley worth $30 million dollars.
Updated - 3:36pm C.T. - XM Radio is reporting the deal could be worth as much as $36 million....check back for updates.
Updated - 5:09pm C.T. - With Additional Information from Ken Rosenthal and the Sun-Times. Both reports indicated the deal is pending a physical that will take place this week and Rosenthal reported the two sides "have to work through language issues."
Updated - 9:46pm C.T. - Bruce Levine just reported on XM Radio with Joe Casellano that the third year on Bradley's contract is not guaranteed. The third year is a vesting option based on games played in the first two seasons.
ESPN.com is reporting the agreement is pending a physical.
Updated - 3:36pm C.T. - XM Radio is reporting the deal could be worth as much as $36 million....check back for updates.
Update 5:09pm C.T. - XM Radio is the only source reporting the deal could be worth as much as $36 million over three years. Ken Rosenthal reported the deal for Bradley is worth $30 million while the Sun-Times stated the "deal is comparable to the three-year, $30 million deal Raul Ibanez signed with the Philadelphia Phillies."
The Sun-Times also reported that the Jason Marquis trade to the Rockies is expected to "be announced as soon as Tuesday."
According to Ken Rosenthal, the Cubs are expected to play Milton Bradley in right field with Kosuke Fukudome occasionally spelling him with Fukudome and Reed Johnson splitting time in centerfield. Rosenthal's report is inline with Bruce Levine stating on Saturday that the Cubs would use late inning defensive replacements in center and in right field.
Looks like we have another bat breaker
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V7qqEURbs2U
Still not sure what I think. But Welcome Milton lets see about 30 dingers 90ish RBI's and 150 games played.
I'm about to say something that I never though I'd say...
I agree with Joe Morgan.
Hold on a sec - just threw up in my mouth a little.... OK - better now.
(deep breath)
Yes - I agree with Joe Morgan. Saw a spot a while back where they were talking about the free agents out there and who was interested in who, and the matter of Bradley to the Cubs was mentioned.
He liked the possibility - saying that although Bradley's had his issues, they've all come from his inner desire to win and to prove himself.
The reason he liked the addition for the Cubs was that they have too "vanilla" of a clubhouse. All the guys in there are level headed and solid citizens. Well... other than Z of course LOL. Bradley injects a little fire into the mix.
Let's hope (holding down the nausea) that Joe Morgan is right.
(in case you couldn't tell - I absolutely HATE Joe Morgan as a commentator)
Agreed! Morgan sucks......and I think Bradley will inject fire into the team. I mentioned on a previous post that I think we as fans would have loved to have him against the Dodgers....he would have went into warp speed with as flat as the team went....
as of right now:
Soriano LF
Fukudome CF
Lee 1B
Bradley RF
Ramirez 3B
Soto C
Fontenot 2B
Theriot SS
I'll take that what do you guys think?
I like tha players....I might jockey the line up a little....
Soriano LF
Fontenot 2B
Bradley RF
Ramirez 3B
Lee 1B
Soto C
Fukudome CF
Theriot SS
What about Miles leading off?
I still miss DeRo in the lineup!!
E:
I love your lineup, just flip Aram for D Lee.
i like the addition due to he is right we need little fire in the clubhouse but not too much that it boils over the top and he becomes the old player of hot headed there is a fine line of enough and too much that he gets a suspension but as lou would say listen fellas he is just in the middle of his prime at 31 he is lefthanded and has pop and in the corners at wrigley he doesn't have to hit it 500 ft for a homer i see him 30 hr plus if healthy all year cross your fingers
I think I would go with:
Theriot (Miles)
Fontenot
Ramirez
Bradley
Soriano
Lee
Fukudome (Johnson, Pie)
Soto
* I would also consider moving Soto into the 7th hole if there is low OBP from the fuku,pie,rj combo.
any takers?
I would go with:
Theriot (highest OBP on team)
Soriano (pitches to hit with Bradley in front)
Bradley
Ramirez
Soto
Lee (his DPs would do less damage here)
Fontenot
Johnson/Fukudome
This completely negates the use of Bradley, Fonetnot, and Fukudome as lefties breaking up righties:
Soriano
Fontenot
Lee
Bradley
Ramirez
Fukudome
Soto
Theriot
Pitcher
Balanced...I think Fuk will have a better season, I like his OBP behind Ramiez to keep the rallies going then followed by Soto...look out!
I like this order...
Theriot
Lee
Ramirez
Bradley
Soriano
Soto
Mighty Mike
Fuku/Johnson
Fontenot and Theriot could be swapped
This is the best lineup
Gary
why would you want soriano to bat #2?
i mean dont we want the guy to hit rbi's?
I would much rather have him leadoff than have him bat #2
but heres my lineup
Fukudome(High OBP can get on base if he gets his bat going)
Theriot
Bradley
Ramirez
Lee
Soriano
Soto
Fontenot
Peavy haha
I like this order...
Theriot
Lee
Ramirez
Bradley
Soriano
Soto
Mighty Mike
Fuku/Johnson
Fontenot and Theriot could be swapped
But lead-off is a prime RBI spot? Anyway, who in their right mind would throw Soriano a strike in an RBI situation, without the threat of a better hitter behind him? Plus, Soriano's got the speed (less than I had hoped for though) to be a 2 hitter.
Gary is about right. This is what everyone forgets when they demand that Soriano move down in the order.
Soriano hits like he does because he can sit on the first pitch fastball. The further down in the order, the less protection, and the less production you'll get from Soriano. If Soriano bats sixth, you won't get nearly as good numbers from him.
I like this lineup
Miles/B. Roberts(L)
Lee (R)
Sori (R)
Bradley (L)
A Ram (R)
Soto (R)
Fuku (L)
Theriot (R)
Bradley is there to break up the middle of the lineup, not bat 3rd, folks.
I hope Bradley has been working on his coaching and motivation techniques cause when he gets injured over and over and misses at least 50 games the Cubs could use his "fire and competitive spirit" in the dugout to urge them on to victory by bringing out the best of their abilities and also competitive spirit.
I wouldn't mind that lineup actually (Fonzie batting second), but the "ideal traditional" number two hitter is a guy with bat control and a good eye that can give the leadoff hitter a chance to run and who can fight off pitches and make the pitcher work.
That's not Soriano :-)
However, I'd like it because it would get him some lineup protection, which I think would make him that much more dangerous.
Plus with a player in front of him that can swipe a base (like Theriot - or if Miles is in the lineup that day, Gathright as a pinch runner) - it just makes it so he sees even more fastballs.
AND it would get him in the game early which is what apparently drives him to want to lead off. He's on deck when the game starts... mentally that might do the trick.
It ain't traditional... but I think it would work well.
I like this lineup:
Theriot
Lee
Ramirez
Bradley
Soriano
Soto
R. Johnson/Fukudome
Miles/Fontenot
I love the idea of Lee hitting in the second hole ... IF, IF, IF he stops hitting into double plays. I know that is a lot to ask. And he won't bunt, so that could be an issue. But I love Lee in the 2-hole. I may be dead wrong about this, but I think I like it.
No question he should hit in the 3 hole -- D Lee should have been moved out of it last year.
D Lee used to be a guy that could bat anywhere in the lineup. Two years ago, having him in the 2 hole would have been perfect... not anymore though.
wouldn't it be funny if the deal fell through because Bradley failed a physical..rather ironic too given his career on the DL
hypothetically say he fails his physical, what should the Cubs do then?
I'd say then Hendry takes Dunn up on his desire to play for the Cubs
Will the Cubs really need a late inning defensive replacement in centerfield, if its a platoon with Fukodome and Reed Johnson? I guess when they pull Bradley, they could shift Fukodome to right. I would like to see Soriano removed more often as a defensive replacement, but that rarely happens to your most "potent" hitter.
I would rather see Reed play than Fukudome. I think Reed is a better ball player.
Here my 2 cents from North Carolina.
SORIANO LF
THERIOT SS
LEE 1B
RAMIREZ 3RD
BRADLEY RF
SOTO C
FUKU/REED CF
MILES/FONT 2ND
HARDEN
GO CUBBIES!!!!!!!!
Line-up
1. Theriot/Miles
2. Fuku/Johnson
3. Sori
4. Bradley
5. Ramirez
6. Fontenot
7. Soto
8. Lee
Lee in the 2-hole would be disastrous with his recent tendency to roll into the double play. I think batting him eighth would not be bad. More fastballs to Soto who has more power, and more fastballs for Lee if there are less than two outs as to not walk him in front of the pitcher for a sacrifice and potential big innning. Batting Fontenot 6th would balance the line-up and make late inning pitching substitutions difficult for opposing teams.
I think we need to be realistic...Soriano probably won't bat anywhere but leadoff, and I would think Bradley would bat BETWEEN LEE AND RAMIREZ!! He's not batting 3 or 5th, but most likely 4th.
Soriano - R
Fontenot - L
Lee - R
Bradley - L
Ramirez - R
Fukudome - L
Soto - R
Theriot - R
Zambrano - L
Remember, Bradley and Miles are switch hitters too. This is a big advantage.
We are not getting Dunn. We spent all our money on Bradley.
Ramirez is not going to hit any later then 4th he is the best hitter on the team, he will hit 3rd with Bradley cleanup and lee moving down to 7th
Theriot
Fontenot
Ramirez
Bradley
Soriano
Soto
Lee
Fukudome
I would certainly like to see Lee moved down in the order too, probably 6th or 7th in the lineup. We know Soriano is the leadoff hitter unless they magically acquire Roberts, or if his legs are bothering him.
I would like to see this, but I know Lou won't hit Lee 8th
Theriot
Fontenot/Miles
Soriano
Bradley
Ramirez
Soto
Fukodome/Reed J
Lee
im a big fan of this move now just bring on peavy and i will be set
I miss Dero too man, that was a HUGE loss for us. But I still think aquiring those arms from Cleveland was so we can flip them for Peavy.
I know that Bradley Dh'ed more than he played OF last year, due to his knee, coming off surgery the preio year. But does anyone have a read on his defensive skills in OF ? I know he has good speed, but does he have a good arm ? Get good jumps ? Hit the cutoff man ?
Let's not forget that although Fuku was disappointing at plate, he was one of best RF's I have ever seen cubs have. maybe the best, so whatver Bradley gives us out there, I think we'r looking at weaker defense.
Just curious...I have not seen much on that.
CC002600....the phrase five-tool player has been used to describe Milton Bradley.
first time posting but long time visitor of the site best cubs site i have found
Soriano
riot
ramirez
Bradley
Soto
Lee
Fontenot
fuku/johnson
BIG Z
i have a few things to let out so here goes
everyone keeps wanting to move soriano down in the lineup Why? Typically the guy hits "leadoff once a game and gets to see what he hits FASTBALLS has anyone noticed how many times the bottom of the order rolled over to the top last year with rbi oportunities why do u think we had on the the best hitting pitching staff in the league soriano was up next it is all about a balanced lineup and getting your best bats to the plate as many times as possible i would rather see soriano get 4 opportunities with no one on base in a low scoring game than lose an at bat hitting him in the 5 or 6 hole also d lee is a team guy and will be fine this year he can still hit and it doesn't matter where in the linup he needs to quit worrying about home runs and drive the ball to right field i like the moves the cubs have made this offseason we can put two different teams on the field i think with the speed and defense we have added we can win those 2-1 ballgames on a cold day in april with the wind blowing in 20 moh at wrigley
look at the speed we can now play with
joey g or pie cf
riot ss
bradley rf
dlee 1b
soriano lf
soto c
font 2b
miles 3b rami doesn't play well in cold weather and has most of his injuries
i see a lot of hit and runs and stolen bases versitility we have not had for several years
Kevin M...welcome to the CCO!
I'd love it if Soriano could hit down in the lineup, but it was tried last year a few times without any success. I think Lee's power isn't what it used to be and he should be out of the 3 spot.
So....
Soriano (R)
Fontenot (L)
Ramirez (R)
Bradley (S)
Soto (R)
Lee (R)
Fukudome (L)
Theriot (R)
Zambrano (S)
Makes the most sense to me
Thanks, Neil.
ok, here's the last thing on my wish list. I say forget Peavy, Marshal will be fine as 5th starter. Let's go out and get a stud setup man to replace Woody in bullpen. (dang, I wish we would have re-signed him, but oh well, it's done).
The bullpen worries me a little. The lineup is improved. And don't forget, when we want to add another LH bat to the lineup, we can always start Bako !! Woooohooo ! LOL.
Go Cubs !
I find it ironic that some people practically demand their manager or coach to have a temper or be somewhat hot headed but grown on players who show their emotions.
I think Bradley will get along well on this team and with this manager.
Barring any further trades, I think the lineup would look like:
Soriano
Miles/Fonteno
Ramirez
Bradley
Lee
Fukudome
Soto
Theriot
Pinella complaining about not 1 pitch from a lefty in last years playoff series really tells me he would like to alternate his batters.
vesting option..
This is good. I am a bit relieved.
Be interesting to see what the final terms of the contract.
5 tool player? Milton Bradley...
Neil, you give up on your tee-totaler ways or what?
He has played a full season exactly never, hit over 20 HR only once and stolen over 15 bases only once in 9 years in the big leagues...
His best statistical season came playing 100 games at DH...
His OBP is v.impressive -- but a 5 tool player he is not.. by ANY stretch of the imagination
Baron, don't shoot the messenger. Just passing on info....
I agree with the posters about moving D. Lee down ... His hand-eye coordination seems to have slowed considerably, and he is probably best suited to the 6 hole...
Take it easy on Milton Bradley everyone ---
this guy is no star hitter.... unreal expectation will only lead to people calling him Jacque Jones in 6 months.
.300 avg, 18 HR, 80 RBI, .400 OBP would be a terrific return from him.... and thats the best case scenario