For those who missed it last year, here is a piece Alan Schwarz did on Milton Bradley. Schwarz is probably my favorite baseball writer, and this article is one of the reasons why. He does not deny that Bradley is a jerk and treats people like crap, but also helps you understand that there is a reason for his actions. It doesn’t give him a free pass-he’s still responsible for choosing to be a prick-but it helps provide context.
While this is all idle speculation, I have to think the Mariners, if interested, could come up with one of the more attractive packages of any team courting Bradley. Most of the rumors floating around are not realistic scenarios, and do not address the issue of the Indians receiving players in return they can use. While the M’s would certainly be better off throwing Quinton McCracken into any deal for Bradley, Cleveland has no need for outfielders, as it is their position of greatest depth in the organization. And while every team seeks pitching, the Indians also have several handfuls of mid-level arms that they’re going to have to find room for on the 40 man roster after this year, and will be likely be more interested in quailty than quantity. They have a plethora of guys like Baek and Livingston, and finding spots in their minor league rotations would become an issue.
So, what do the Indians need?
1. A frontline, major league ready starter.
2. Offensive middle infielders.
3. Catching depth.
Realistically, I believe they would ask for Nageotte in any trade. The asking price last summer was “Nageotte plus one or two others”, but he was reportedly the key piece. Due to this latest blowup, I have to imagine the price would be a bit lower, and the Indians would be tempted by a Nageotte for Bradley offer. And I would do this in a heartbeat.
Realistically, Nageotte is very high risk prospect. His mechanics are questionable, especially the somewhat awkward landing of his front foot that can cause his release point to slip. He relies heavily on his slider and has accumulated a large workload the past two years. His command is still a work in progress and he doesn’t have a major league changeup. Right now, he’s closer to Jeff Nelson than a staff ace. The potential is certainly there, and teams love his combination of velocity, wicked slider, and great strikeout rates. But there’s a very high probability that Nageotte’s stock will go down before it goes up, and this is likely one of the best times to trade him. I know the M’s love pitching, but Nageotte is not the kind of once-in-a-lifetmie talent that you refuse to move, and Milton Bradley is an established major league star at a position of need. I absolutely make that trade.
If, however, the M’s decide Nageotte is off the table, I still believe they could get the deal done. A package of Jose Lopez, Rene Rivera, and a midlevel arm (Looper, Putz, or Cate, for instance) could appeal to Cleveland. Despite the positive press he’s been getting this spring, scouts are still split on Lopez, and he doesn’t have minor league numbers that a good organization like Cleveland often looks for. There are quite a few holes in his game, and whether Bob Melvin thinks he’s going to be an all-star or not, he doesn’t have as much trade value as most believe. Rivera is an intriguing prospect, but again, someone you can give up in a deal for a player like Bradley.
Certainly, both of these options would appeal to the Indians moreso than some of the other rumored packages floating around the internet. It is clear that the M’s have prospects at areas of need that would interest Cleveland. It will be interesting to see just how aggressive the front office is in using those pieces to obtain a player that could make the difference in the A.L. West.
This is a no-brainer. If Milton Bradley is available on the cheap, you do everything in your power to acquire him.
Because there are still some unanswered questions about his character I’d be hesitant to include the likes of Clint Nageotte or Travis Blackley, but the Indians can have pretty much anybody else they want. Rett Johnson, Aaron Looper and Ryan Franklin? Sold. Cha Baek and Bobby Livingston? You got it. Bobby Madtrisch and Troy Cate? Deal.
C’mon, M’s, make it happen.
Well, push has come to shove, and the Mariners now have a decision to make. Supremely talented center fielder Milton Bradley has reportedly burned his bridges in Cleveland, after a confrontation with the manager about failing to hustle on a ground ball. This is nothing new for Bradley, who is easily one of the most volatile personalities in the game. Among his indiscretions over his professional career are an incident where he spit on an umpire in the minor leagues, been involved in fights with teammates, accused the Expos of being a racist organization, and recently drove away from a police officer after being pulled over for speeding, which led to a three day jail sentence, which has yet to be served.
Bradley is an angry young man who has had to deal with a lot growing up. He is, essentially, everything the Mariners do not want their players to be as human beings, despite his exemplary record of community service. He is considered a problem in the clubhouse and does not fit the family-friendly image the Mariners marketing team has designed.
However, Milton Bradley is exactly what the Mariners need in a ballplayer. Just looking at his accomplishments on the field, we have a 25-year-old center fielder who hit .321/.421/.501 last year, good for a .328 EqA, making him one of the best players in the American League. He is a quality defensive player with a middle of the order bat who controls the strike zone and has exemplary secondary skills. As an athlete, he fits everything the M’s want in a player. His tools are above average across the board, and his breakout last year looks like natural improvement rather than an early peak. Even more appealing to the Mariners would be his pricetag, at just $1.7 million for this year, and he’s not eligible for free agency until after 2006.
A trade for Bradley would answer a lot of questions on the field, as he would solidify the outfield defense as well as provide the explosive bat the Mariners need in the middle of the order. However, it would create just as many questions in the clubhouse, where his acquisition would fly in the face of everything the M’s have done the past two years. If they truly believe character is more important than talent, than Bradley won’t be an option. You have to wonder, however, if Bob Melvin and Bill Bavasi would consider the fact that Bradley could possibly be nurtured in the veteran-laden clubhouse that they’ve built.
If ever there was a chance to obtain an all-star player at a discounted rate, this is it. He fits the Mariners needs to a tee. We now get to find out just how much emphasis the M’s place on chemistry and the desire to have everyone on the team be a marketable personality.
Update: I have learned that the Mariners did indeed inquire about the availability of Bradley last summer, and were interested in acquiring him despite his off-field issues. The deal broke down over the inclusion of Clint Nageotte, but the M’s were not hindered by his issues then, and it is possible that they will not be hindered by them now.
I’ve been attempting to get around to writing a season preview post, with my thoughts on the team by position, the strengths, the weaknesses, and the outlook for 2004. I now feel like it would be completely redundant, as Dan Werr nails it in his team preview at Baseball Primer. There really isn’t a whole heck of a lot in the article I disagree with. So, here’s my shortened season preview:
Well done, Dan, we agree. But go M’s anyways.
As a point of clarification, I recieved an email from David Andriesen last night, with two requests.
1. Please spell his name right.
2. Realize that his editors added the Top Prospects section to the end of the Jose Lopez article, and he had nothing to do with the content.
I’m not sure why I kept adding a second s to his last name, but I’ll be more careful from now on. And, we won’t hold that abomination of a prospect list against Andriesen. Someone really should talk to those editors, though.