Pat Burrell and Milton Bradley jump start free agent market
By 'Duk
Apparently baseball's agents, GMs and corner outfielders appreciate their holiday time just as much as we bloggers do. After a mostly dormant two-week period, the hot stove is cooking again with the news that Pat Burrell is headed to Tampa Bay for two years while Milton Bradley will sign a three-year deal to play at Wrigley with the Cubs.
At two years, $16 million, Burrell's agreement is the type of deal anyone not named Pat Burrell has to like. The 32-year-old outfielder was undoubtedly expecting bigger numbers, but the newfound option to DH should preserve his health and give him the ability to work toward a contract after this one. Though I would've preferred to see Adam Dunn land at The Trop, the addition of Burrell at that price was probably too good for Andrew Friedman and his brain trust to pass up — not to mention a much better option than settling for a bargain-priced Ken Griffey.
After acknowledging his ability to switch hit and the entertainment value he'll bring to Wrigley's big top, it's a little harder to feel unabashed optimism toward Bradley's three-year, $30 million deal. Yes, he mashed the ball for a career resurgence in '08, but he's as big an injury risk as anyone in MLB and it's hard to stomach that prospect a week after the Cubs traded away the always-versatile Mark DeRosa. Also, after a run of right fielders that included Jeromy Burnitz, Jacque Jones and Kosuke Fukudome, it's hard to imagine that the brittle and volatile Bradley will be the one to break the Curse of Sammy Sosa — at least for the entire length of the contract.
Then again, I enjoyed talking with Bradley at the All-Star Game in July and perhaps he'll be able to continue doing his thing in Chicago while staying out of trouble. We'll see.
By 'Duk
At two years, $16 million, Burrell's agreement is the type of deal anyone not named Pat Burrell has to like. The 32-year-old outfielder was undoubtedly expecting bigger numbers, but the newfound option to DH should preserve his health and give him the ability to work toward a contract after this one. Though I would've preferred to see Adam Dunn land at The Trop, the addition of Burrell at that price was probably too good for Andrew Friedman and his brain trust to pass up — not to mention a much better option than settling for a bargain-priced Ken Griffey.
After acknowledging his ability to switch hit and the entertainment value he'll bring to Wrigley's big top, it's a little harder to feel unabashed optimism toward Bradley's three-year, $30 million deal. Yes, he mashed the ball for a career resurgence in '08, but he's as big an injury risk as anyone in MLB and it's hard to stomach that prospect a week after the Cubs traded away the always-versatile Mark DeRosa. Also, after a run of right fielders that included Jeromy Burnitz, Jacque Jones and Kosuke Fukudome, it's hard to imagine that the brittle and volatile Bradley will be the one to break the Curse of Sammy Sosa — at least for the entire length of the contract.
Then again, I enjoyed talking with Bradley at the All-Star Game in July and perhaps he'll be able to continue doing his thing in Chicago while staying out of trouble. We'll see.
