I guess this answers the question, “How bad is the Carlos Silva contract?”

This is team #8 for Milton, who turns 32 next spring.

Wow. Truly amazing. Hard to believe that one player can be that big of a headcase.

I have to admit, this is a good trade for the Mariners. They can dump his salary later if they need to without feeling bad, because they avoided having to dump Silva’s salary. Bradley will have trouble making excuses in the company of Griffey, and when healthy, he’s a hell of a defender to be able to put in LF.

4 April 2004, mlb.com

DePodesta defended Bradley’s character. “I think Milton’s gotten a bad rap,” he said. “I talked to him and he’s absolutely ecstatic about this. He grew up a Dodger fan dreaming of a chance to play in Dodger Blue. Sure, there have been bumps in the road. But he’s done more community service in Cleveland than any player by a long shot. I think he’s had a little bit of a bad rap.”

29 June 2007, AP

The Padres acquired the temperamental Bradley from the Oakland Athletics on Friday, the second time in just more than a week that the two-time defending NL West champions added a player with a history of blowups. “He’s 29-years-old, he’s been around the block and knows what’s expected,” Padres manager Bud Black said.

18 December 2009, mlb.com

“We have been looking to add offense to our club and in Milton have a player who has always gotten on base and has the ability to drive in runs,” Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik said. “He is passionate about winning, as we are, and we believe he’ll be a good fit here.”

Whatever, Jack.

Am I the only one who’s a little worried about Bradley’s ability to hit?

He had a great year in ’07 except that it was in 244 PAs and his ’08 was monstrous. However, there were some weird things going on in ’08: he had a .388 babip, pushing his batting average to .321, tying his career high and besting his career average by a little less than 50 points.

Now, Milton’s always been a guy with a good babip (.322 career) so that’s not a huge concern. But, there’s also the park thing: in 2008, Milton hit 16 of his 22 HRs at home and OPSed 1.145 at home (.872 on the road).

And, of course, his 2009 was truly putrid: .257/.378/.397. There’s something to like there in that he retained on base ability, which the M’s really need, but there’s also a lot to not like.

I think this is a good move, don’t get me wrong. Silva is a dead asset and Milton has upside. But, still, this is a guy who’s going to be 32 and has always struggled with significant injuries. All the ‘head-case’ talk aside, I think there’s a not insignificant chance Milton is just sort of done and that playing in Safeco is just going to make it worse.

Good for MB, though. I love that guy.

Being argumentative on the field isn’t the same as being difficult off of it, and besides…What really matters here is that, even with Bradley’s history, there’s no guarantee that his personality is going to be a problem in 2010. We don’t have Lou Piniella and [Redacted] alcoholics in the bleachers. We have Don Wakamatsu and soccer moms. I mean it when I say that this is literally the best place for a player like Bradley to land, and that’s why this makes me so excited.

That’s from LL, and that is clueless.

Over/under on games played before his first suspension?

He and Clifton Phifer can talk Wedgenius in the locker room. I’d like to be a fly on the wall for that conversation.

Advice for Seattle fans: Time with Milton Bradley will end in tears.