Cubs Close to Dumping Milton Bradley

By Benjy Lipsman in News on Dec 9, 2009 3:40PM

Major League Baseball's Winter Meetings are underway at a hotel in Indianapolis, and of course it's a veritable hotbed of rumors about trades and free agent signings. But the most persistent rumors flowing throughout the gathering involve the Cubs' Milton Bradley -- so much so that it's become the running joke around the hotel. His inability to fit in with the Cubs was well documented, and moving the disgruntled outfielder has topped GM Jim Hendry's off-season to-do list.

While we're surprised that anybody would show interest in Bradley after his long track record of causing problems [Ed's Note: Not to mention his career average of 11 HR/43 RBI/.277 that the Cubs thought was worth $10 mil/year - M.G.], there are potential buyers -- no doubt enticed by the Cubs' willingness to pick up much of the tab on Bradley's remaining two years. The Tampa Bay Rays appear to be the front runner to land his services, in a trade for Pat Burrell. There are rumors that such a deal might be part of a three-way swap that would send Burrell elsewhere, likely the Mets or Blue Jays.

Yet the Sun-Times' Gordon Wittenmyer reported on rumors that have Bradley going to an American League team while ruling out the Ray and Rangers as possible destinations. Regardless of where he ends up, it's looking like the Milton Bradley era is about to end on the North Side... possibly today. We'll provide updates when a deal is confirmed.