New York (AP) — The Chicago Cubs and Mariners traded headaches Friday,
with mercurial outfielder Milton Bradley heading to Seattle for
underperforming pitcher Carlos Silva.
Cubs general manager Jim
Hendry had been trying to deal Bradley since the team suspended him for
the final two weeks of last season, shortly after he criticized the
atmosphere surrounding a club that hasn't won a World Series since 1908.
"I'm
ready to move forward and not make any statements about Chicago. I'm a
Seattle Mariner," Bradley said. "I'm trying to put everything in the
past and I'm not interested in rehashing old news."
Bradley had signed a $30 million, three-year deal with the Cubs last offseason.
"I
bear the responsibility for that not working out," Hendry said.
"Obviously, in this case, it did not work out how we planned, which was
also the reason I sent Milton home. (That's) not going to be tolerated,
to treat our fans, teammates and members of the media the way he did."
Silva
was 5-18 with a 6.81 ERA in two seasons with Seattle after leaving
Minnesota to sign a $48 million, four-year contract with Seattle.
Chicago receives $9 million from the Mariners as part of the swap —
Silva has $25 million remaining on his contract and Bradley has $22
million left on his deal.
Seattle, which already had added pitcher Cliff Lee and third baseman Chone Figgins, was seeking more run production.
"It's
a new day, new way for this guy," Mariners general manager Jack
Zduriencik said. "What we know is that he is a good person, that he is
a very intelligent guy, that he has a strong desire to win."
With
just a few days remaining before many teams go on holiday break, Nick
Johnson reached a preliminary agreement on a $5.5 million, one-year
contract with the Yankees. That move likely will end Johnny Damon's
time in New York after four seasons.
Baltimore finalized its $12 million, two-year contract with reliever Mike Gonzalez, who will get a chance to become its closer.
In
a move that required little thought, Philadelphia exercised its $8.5
million option for 2011 on shortstop Jimmy Rollins, the 2007 NL MVP.
Infielder
Jamey Carroll finalized a $3.85 million, two-year contract with the Los
Angeles Dodgers and left-hander Javier Lopez, who had been with Boston,
agreed to a $775,000, one-year contract with Pittsburgh. Milwaukee
agreed to a one-year contract to keep right-hander Claudio Vargas, and
Cincinnati agreed to a minor league contract with Laynce Nix, who last
month became a free agent when he rejected the Reds' attempt to send
him to Triple-A.
Among players eligible for arbitration, right-hander Ricky Nolasco and the Florida Marlins agreed at $3.8 million.
Damon,
who had a key double steal that helped New York beat the Phillies in
the World Series, became a free agent after completing a $52 million,
four-year contract.
While he was popular with teammates and fans,
the Yankees were concerned about his age (36). The sides also were far
apart on money. Damon at first was seeking a three-year deal worth at
least $39 million, while New York was prepared to go no higher than $18
million to $20 million over two seasons.
His agent, Scott Boras, told the Yankees on Thursday that Damon was willing to accept two years.
"The
Yankees made us an offer yesterday at 4 o'clock and we responded at
4:30 and they told us that Johnny just didn't fit in their budget,"
Boras said.
Johnson spent three years with the Yankees before he
was traded to Montreal after the 2003 season in the Javier Vazquez
deal. The 31-year-old figures to replace World Series MVP Hideki Matsui
as New York's designated hitter and becomes the second significant
addition to the Yankees. During the winter meetings, New York obtained
center fielder Curtis Granderson in a trade from Detroit.
Johnson
hit a combined .291 for Washington and Florida last season with eight
homers, 62 RBIs, 99 walks, a .426 on-base percentage and a .405
slugging percentage. He has made nine trips to the disabled list.
The 31-year-old Gonzalez went 5-4 with 10 saves and a 2.42 ERA with Atlanta last season. He hopes to become the Orioles' closer.
"The
thing that I'm excited about is the division we're going to be playing
in," he said. "Obviously, everyone knows that this is the toughest
division in baseball. To be able to face those lineups, I take it as a
challenge."