Burrell-For-Bradley Rumor Rears Its Head Again

I’m not even going to link to it. That site is 100% non-credible.

like Al stated, you’d have to assume he’d have to go to another AL team in need of a DH.

Does anyone know of any AL teams in need of a DH?

Don’t forget that Burrell is a 1B by trade — he moved to LF because of some guy named Thome. The Giants are looking for CIF power, and Panda can play either spot.

He was above average. A solid player with good fundamentals. I’d want that player. Apparently, he has declined during his Mets tenure and all I see when I think of his name is that dropped flyball this summer vs. the Yankees.

…isn’t that much. And maybe the Cubs could lower it further by eating some.

Castillo’s OBP has been above league average since 1999 – graph. Lou could put him at the top of the order with Kosuke and let him do his thing. There’s a lot not to like about him, but it’s probably best we all accentuate the positive in this unfortunate situation.

Aside from the “addition by subtraction” of Bradley, frankly I see Castillo as an improvement over our existing 2B options.

I’m not sure playing for the Mets has served any player well over the past few seasons, so a change of scenery might enhance Castillo’s performance. Regardless, his OBP and SB numbers would be welcomed at the top of the Cubs’ line up.

For starters, Castillo has shown a sustained ability to get on base at a higher rate than Pierre – graph. Second, our expectations of Castillo would be much lower. Again, he’s a potentially, somewhat valuable way out of the Milton mess. Nothing more, nothing less.

Also, I’m not clear on what you mean by “third outfielder.”

Just sayin’. He’s more of a 1st PH type and that’s all.

This team has NO speed. Soriano was 2nd on the SB chart in 2009 with 9. 9!!! That’s insane. I’d be happy with 15 from Castillo. His on base numbers are good too. Getting him means we don’t have to limit ourselves to speedy CF’ers as well. If the asking price for Granderson is too high, go after Cameron or Byrd.

he knows when he can go and when he can’t. That’s valuable – especially if it rubs off on some other players on the team.

of Bradley’s 2011 and can move Burrell by the deadline without eating more contract dollars, that has the Cubs offloading MB for the $6M in 2011 and paying roughly half of Burrell’s 2010 at $4.5M.

I’ll agree as paying out $10.5M in total “penalty” without having to take additional risk like Rowand or V. Wells and crippling the team for a longer term makes sense.

That Soriano won’t be playing hurt and thus hurting the team in the process

… and use it when it seems useful.

He is a great white Whale wasting a roster spot. Bradley has more value as a player but fans won’t get past the off field stuff,

I doubt Burrell will. For Burrell, what you see is what you get. 2009 for Bradley has an aberration.

But I don’t think Bradley has the media skills to thrive in Chicago. if he starts off slow again, he won’t be contrite and he’ll replay 2009 again. Even if he does start off good, a reporter will ask him a question that ticks him off. He’s lose-lose with the media.

There are 24 other players in the clubhouse, not one of whom came to his defense when he was shut down at the end of the years, and although they chose their words carefully, most made it known that they were glad to be rid of him. Not to mention the millions of fans all around the country who are over him, and the media, who would make the whole season a circus, from the first day of spring training to the last day of the season. The media circus would be like Bonds’ last year or two in San Francisco. I just don’t see him starting the season in a Cubs uniform in any way, shape, or form because the season would just turn into the “Barnum & Bradley” circus.

Now, this Burrell deal. This is a tough one. Clearly, Burrell is a defensive liability, and offensively his best days are behind him. He’s 33, has no speed, has really nothing that we are looking for other than being a good bat off the bench. He does seem like he would be a great clubhouse presence, and he’s a guy who has been to the World Series and had success there. The big question is, what role would he be willing to play with the Cubs? If he’s expecting to be an everyday starting outfielder, then I nix this trade, because that is simply not going to happen. But if he’s willing to be a veteran leader and try to step in a play a certain role, I probably roll the dice on this one, because you simply have to get Bradley off the team. He was not the sole reason the 2009 Cubs failed, but he is the biggest road block toward the Cubs succeeding in 2010, and it has nothing to do with on-field performance (I know he has a good OBP, you don’t have to tell me that). I don’t know what Hendry has cooking right now, other than what I’ve read, and that sometimes turns out to be just smoke. Keep trying to get Granderson. But I look at the Bradley situation as “a bird in the hand is worth two in a bush”. If you have a taker now and can get something for him, do it. Don’t wait for February and risk having the circus some to Mesa, Arizona when it’s supposed to be Spring Training.

If we traded Derrek Lee and re-signed Michael Barrett
LF Soriano
CF Fukudome
RF Burrell
3B Fox
SS Theriot
2B Castillo
1B Ramirez
C Barrett

But, wait, daver says, UZR likes Ryan Theriot at SS. Oh well.

on the Adam Dunns of the world. When a guy is this bad on defense, the results are uncontroversial: all the fancy metrics agree, scouts agree, and fans agree (http://www.tangotiger.net/scouting/scoutResults2008_PHI.html). If Burrell was a proven bat like Dunn, maybe (though even Dunn plays mostly at 1B now) I’d buy it, but he’s not and is a super long shot to be a Met next year.

…makes Burrell a ‘1B by trade’. How did I miss that? Nice work detective.

… not trading / cutting and eating his contract whole IS an option. You could… you know… keep him?

* GASP! OH NO HE DIDN’T! *

A $10M obligation for a guy sitting on a beach or worse, performing like 2008 Bradley making an additional $1M for another team, possibly in the division, or

At least a guy who can backup 1B and pinch hit with a little power.

Lou has proven he doesn’t use a 25 man roster anyway.

and it’s only because we’re trying any way we can to get rid of Bradley, but suddenly there’d be another buyer for Burrell once he got here? O………..K…………….

But give Ricketts credit. He is true to his word — he is letting people do their jobs and holding them accountable. Right now Hendry is in the “doing his job” portion of that pledge. If it doesn’t work out, I have no doubt Ricketts will hold him accountable.