Sunday, April 04, 2004
Milton Bradley is a Dodger
Posted by Matthew NameeThe offense-starved Dodgers acquired Indians headache/OF Milton Bradley today, in exchange for outfield prospect Franklin Gutierrez and a PTBNL.
As a Dodger fan, I love that we've got Bradley in the outfield. Franklin Gutierrez is no small price to pay -- he's got a chance to be as good as Bradley in three years -- but L.A. needed a major-league hitter and Bradley fits the bill. As for his attitude issues, Jim Tracy may be the right manager to help channel Board Game's energy in the right direction.
Paul DePodesta has made a flurry of deals in the last week or so, but those moves have been for spare parts; Bradley could be an All-Star if he stays in the lineup. Already, the Dodgers' playoff chances have been improved.
Matthew Namee cofounded The Hardball Times in 2004, when he was working as the assistant to baseball author and Red Sox executive Bill James. Matthew still lives in Kansas, where he is currently pursuing a law degree. He can be reached at mfnamee [at] gmail [dot] com.