Bradley “era” looks to be over with Cubs
It’s been a lousy year all around for the Chicago Cubs, who were the preseason favorites to win the National League on WagerWeb.com. The Cubbies aren’t going back to the playoffs this year, and the guy getting most of the blame is outfielder Milton Bradley.
Bradley, who somehow got a three-year, $30 million deal as a free agent this offseason, is hitting .257 with 12 homers and 40 RBIs this season – and those numbers won’t change as he was suspended by the team for the remainder of the season. Bradley seemingly repaired both his career and image last year in Texas, earning him that ridiculous contract, but he has reverted back to his childish ways this season, and the Cubs are fed up.
Bradley was disciplined for conduct detrimental to the team. General Manager Jim Hendry said he decided to send Bradley home after learning of the player’s remarks in an Illinois newspaper. Bradley, scratched from Saturday’s lineup with a sore left knee, was quoted as saying “you understand why they haven’t won in 100 years here.”
Hendry said he doesn’t know if the relationship can be salvaged.
“Recently, it’s become intolerable to hear Milton talk about our great fans the way he has,” Hendry said. “We pride ourselves on having the greatest fans in baseball, so at this time we felt it was best to send him home for the rest of the season.”
Bradley has battled the media and the fans all season and nearly came to blows earlier this year with manager Lou Piniella. But the final straw apparently came when Bradley pulled himself from Thursday’s game with apparent knee soreness, one day after Piniella pulled him after the third inning on a double switch. Bradley took himself out of Saturday’s lineup, then refused to pinch-hit late in the game, leading to hitting coach Von Joshua getting in his face.
“It’s just not a positive environment,” Bradley said of his first year in Chicago. “I need a stable, healthy, enjoyable environment. … It’s just negativity.”
The outfielder certainly will never play as a Cub again. The Cubs are on the hook for the second season of Bradley’s contract, but they could buy out the third year for $2 million if he is on the disabled list at the end of 2009 with a knee injury and is not on the active roster by April 15. Chicago will try and trade him, but there are no suckers out there willing to take this contract on unless the Cubs pay nearly all of it.
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