As we approach the end of a wild 2009, most Cub fans are excited to turn the page onto a fresh, new season. Jim Hendry has already done some shopping and now he looks to add to a team that is just a piece or two away from getting back to 2008-style Cubs Baseball. To the relief of many, Milton Bradley was finally traded when it looked like all possibilities had frozen, to Seattle for on-field troubled right-hander Carlos Silva and cash. The deal is actually amazing in my opinion, because of the salary offset solution. Bradley and Silva are two players with very overpaid contracts and neither have lived up to their lofty expectations. Bradley, coming off an All-Star season in 2008 in Texas, was signed to a $30 million contract over 3 years. Silva, after moderate success in Minnesota, was signed to a 4-year, $48 million contract with Seattle. Silva went 4-15 in 2008, frustrating fans in Seattle even further while they suffered through an 100-loss season. In 2009, he was injured for the majority of the season, returning briefly to pitch poorly with an ERA over 6.The salary offset I was talking about is that the Mariners will send $3 million to the Cubs for each of the next three years to help offset the differences between the two contracts, so its as if the players we traded have the exact same salary. I'm sure Silva will be working with Larry Rothschild this spring very much to become the pitcher that won 47 games over 4 years with the Twins. Silva is a sinker-baller who doesn't strike out many. In fact, hardly anyone at all. Although sinker-ballers are well-suited for Wrigley Field, Silva has struck out just 474 batters in 1128.2 innings in his career. Larry Rothschild and the rest of the Cubs staff will be hard on Silva to be a relevant pitcher again. There is a chance he could make the Cubs' starting rotation out of Spring Training, but it is a long shot. I don't think this is the right move. This guy, like he has been for most of his career, is an overweight, overvalued hurler who is not ready to step onto the big stage of Chicago and perform, especially after his last two seasons. If he makes the team, and again IF, then he needs to be put in the bullpen in and used in situations with no danger. This means being used in the role Rule 5 pick David Patton was used in last season where you use the person only with a big lead or when you are well behind. If he performs well, then we can put him in the mix with the middle relievers.
As for Milton Bradley, I see him having a bounceback in Seattle. Although the off-field issues will always be there, a calming leader presence like Ken Griffey, Jr. will continue to mentor Bradley on how to handle himself on and off the field. You might hear that line a lot for young rookies being mentored by veterans, but for a guy like Bradley, mentoring should never get old. With Bradley and Griffey, Jr. the Seattle Mariners are really on their way. The AL West will be one of the most exciting divisions in 2010, and the most surprising players in the free agent market could make a run for the wild card or (gasp) upend the invicible LA Angels for the division crown. But that's next year.
