The big move on the horizon for the Chicago Cubs is obviously dumping Milton Bradley. But that isn’t necessarily the sole focus of the Cubs’ offseason, and General Manager Jim Hendry is already reaching out to several teams about possible moves.
Though, to be frank, most are likely tied to Milton Bradley. For now.
General manager Jim Hendry and his baseball department have been working on trades with Tampa, Toronto and three or four other clubs with players with big contracts that they would like to move.
A Milton Bradley-for-Pat Burrell trade has been on the table for three weeks.
Toronto will talk to anyone who will take outfielder Vernon Wells off its hands. Wells has a multi-year contracts that pays close to $15 million per year.
Toronto at some point will be looking at moving ace right-hander Roy Halladay. It’s unknown at this point if the Cubs will be involved. Halladay is one season from free agency. ESPN Chicago.
Thoughts:
1.) Still don’t like the Bradley/Burrell swap, unless it means the Cubs can add another quality bat, which it very well may not, given Burrell’s healthy $8 million salary.
2.) A Bradley for Wells swap – not explicitly mentioned, but reading between the lines – would be a disaster. Vernon Wells has a contract almost identical to Alfonso Soriano’s. And if it’s possible, Wells has been far worse than Soriano.
3.) I wonder who the other three or four teams are, and more importantly, who the other three to four big contracts the Cubs are considering taking on. And are they tied only to moving Milton Bradley? Presumably, yes.
4.) The Cubs will probably sniff Halladay, but ultimately will come up short in MLB-ready prospects, or will not have room for his $15.75 million salary in 2010.