NEWSLETTER
The Chicago Cubs are looking for a left-handed bat for right field, preferably one with pop. Among the logical choices on the market are the presumptive favorite (Milton Bradley), the guy who will get way too much money (Bobby Abreu), and the guy that probably couldn’t play RF anyway (Adam Dunn).
The Sporting News caught up with a super mysterious mystery scout who gave his (or her, you sexist) thoughts on each of the three.
Milton Bradley. “If he was healthy, he’d probably be gone. I don’t think his makeup is as much of a deterrent as people would assume to be. He’s still a very good offensive player. The switch-hitter aspect is ideal. He cannot play every day in the outfield, but he still could be a National League player, but has to be protected. He’ll probably play around 130 to 135 games, but he’s not one to be counted on to play 150-plus games with his knee problems.” Adding, “[h]e, outside of Manny, is the best overall run producer with power, even above Abreu.”
Two years ago, the suggestion that Bradley had power beyond Abreu would have been ridiculous. Now, not so much. Now, it is only the suggestion that Bradley has power beyond Adam Dunn that is ridiculous.
Check out the rest of the scout’s thoughts after the jump.
Bobby Abreu. “He’s a very good player. He’s a very consistent offensive player. He’s just an average right fielder right now. We all know how patient he is, how he works the count, how he uses the whole field. He has some decline in power. He just needs to fall in line until some of the other more high-profile guys like Manny get signed. I think he’s going to be a good bargain for somebody at this time.”
Home runs aren’t the end-all, be-all of production, but Bobby’s were WAY down with the Yankees. The right field wall in (old) Yankee Stadium is approximately 47 feet from the plate. The drop in homers for Abreu is terrifying.
Adam Dunn. “He still is a good run producer. He’s a below-average outfielder—well below-average; doesn’t run well at all. He could be one of those guys who could fall to a team such as the Angels who are not going to break the bank, as proven by the Mark Teixeira situation. He’s probably a guy who, in this day and time, with his ability to be patient and get on base and his all-or-nothing approach with his home runs and strikeouts, he’s probably ideally suited to play in the American League with his defensive liabilities.”
See, I told you he probably couldn’t play RF for the Cubs.
