Milton Bradley deal apparently done

In a move that seemed to be only a matter of time, multiple outlets are reporting that the Cubs have signed switch hitter Milton Bradley to patrol right field in 2009.  The deal is being reported as 3 years and $30 million, roughly the same that the Phillies paid for Raul Ibanez.  Ibanez is older and less talented than Bradley, but has been more dependable from an injury and not being a nut job from time to time stand point.  All in all, I say the Cubs absolutely made the right choice if they were considering these two guys.

I’m not yet sold on Bradley’s ability to play right field in Wrigley, but the Cubs have a decent backup plan in Kosuke Fukudome.  Bradley provides the Cubs with a reliable switch hitting bat for the first time since Bill Mueller played third for the Cubs, and should help to combat the much publicized problems the Cubs had with right handed pitching in the post season last year.

I'm already looking forward to the signs the Bleacher Bums are going to come up with

Right now, the Cubs lineup according to Guy Smiley projects as follows:

Alfonso Soriano LF
Ryan Theriot SS
Derrek Lee 1B
Aramis Ramirez 3B
Milton Bradley RF
Geovany Soto C
Mike Fontenot/Aaron Miles 2B
Reed Johnson/Kosuke Fukudome CF

You could see Aramis and Bradley swap spots to toggle lefties and righties, and the bottom of the lineup is subject to daily change. I think you will see a lefty/righty platoon in center field and at second base, unless the Cubs make another move this offseason, which is still a possibility in my opinion.

There’s no doubting Bradley’s talent. However he’s played over 100 games just three times in his 9 season career for various reasons (luckily Lou Piniella does not seem to be the violent type, so he likely won’t tear Bradley’s ACL trying to keep him away from an ump). Even last year, when he really put things together, he only played in 126 games, and he had the luxury of DHing in 97 of the games he played for the American League Rangers.

I think the Cubs would have made the playoffs this season without signing Bradley, so where he’s going to earn his money is in October, the time of the year when the Cubs offense has absolutely disappeared the last two seasons. 

The Cubs had a need, and they made an attempt to address it in making this move, so I will endorse it, if for no other reason than because Bradley is going to strike fear in the heart of eternal Cub basher Marty Brennaman if he dares speak ill of Bradley or the Cubs.

Rosenthal’s Scoop

Bradley’s Career Stats