Comments on: The Bradley Conundrum http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/the-bradley-conundrum/ Daily baseball statistical analysis and commentary Sun, 12 Feb 2012 19:14:16 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Tom Au http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/the-bradley-conundrum/#comment-39680 Tom Au Mon, 18 Aug 2008 20:58:59 +0000 http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/the-bradley-conundrum/#comment-39680 How about splitting the difference and offering him a two-year $25 million contract? How about splitting the difference and offering him a two-year $25 million contract?

]]> By: Kazinski http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/the-bradley-conundrum/#comment-38734 Kazinski Sat, 09 Aug 2008 05:41:36 +0000 http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/the-bradley-conundrum/#comment-38734 Evan, that is a ridiculous statement. Bradley has has so many problems so many places that it is past ludicrous to say that Bradley isn't major part of the problem. The incident with the umpire last year for example, lets take as a given that the umpire was way out line and Bradley was intentionally provoked. He still way overreacted, to the point it shows a volatile temper under very little control. He ended up hurting himself and his team. That said I think Bradley would be a good risk for an AL team, for one he is over 30 and that seems to do a lot for toning down a player. Look at Jose Guillen and Albert Belle, both became significantly less trouble as they aged. There may even be hope for Eliha Dukes when he gets a little older. Evan, that is a ridiculous statement. Bradley has has so many problems so many places that it is past ludicrous to say that Bradley isn’t major part of the problem. The incident with the umpire last year for example, lets take as a given that the umpire was way out line and Bradley was intentionally provoked. He still way overreacted, to the point it shows a volatile temper under very little control. He ended up hurting himself and his team.

That said I think Bradley would be a good risk for an AL team, for one he is over 30 and that seems to do a lot for toning down a player. Look at Jose Guillen and Albert Belle, both became significantly less trouble as they aged. There may even be hope for Eliha Dukes when he gets a little older.

]]> By: evan http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/the-bradley-conundrum/#comment-38704 evan Fri, 08 Aug 2008 07:25:04 +0000 http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/the-bradley-conundrum/#comment-38704 The only people Bradley wore his welcome with with were Paul Lo Duca, Jeff Kent (two shining lights there) and the unabashedly racist sports media with whom Bradley doesn't feel the need to cooperate with. The only people Bradley wore his welcome with with were Paul Lo Duca, Jeff Kent (two shining lights there) and the unabashedly racist sports media with whom Bradley doesn’t feel the need to cooperate with.

]]> By: dan http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/the-bradley-conundrum/#comment-38702 dan Fri, 08 Aug 2008 05:43:22 +0000 http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/the-bradley-conundrum/#comment-38702 Sky-- Yankees don't like playing Damon in CF all the time. He's a fill-in there. IIRC, most fielding metrics say he's pretty good out there, but it seems both Torre and Girardi disagree. Sky–

Yankees don’t like playing Damon in CF all the time. He’s a fill-in there. IIRC, most fielding metrics say he’s pretty good out there, but it seems both Torre and Girardi disagree.

]]> By: Moosed http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/the-bradley-conundrum/#comment-38700 Moosed Fri, 08 Aug 2008 03:49:22 +0000 http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/the-bradley-conundrum/#comment-38700 What about free agent compensation? Bradley will most likely be a Type A free agent again. Is it worth it to give up the picks and the years and the money for a guy who usually has trouble reaching 400 PAs a year due to health problems? I would think a contending team with a need for offense and a deep farm system would be most likely to gamble on him for a multi-year contract, like the Rays, especially if they could get him for a little less than 10 million a year for 2 or 3 years. Either way, wouldn't Texas be smartest to offer him salary arbitration, let him decline, and then let him sign elsewhere and get some draft picks for him. I know he's been very productive, but Texas has a loaded lineup and his consistent lack of playing time is a big alarm. I think the Rangers aren't going to be a serious contender next year with their current pitching staff, even if they retained Bradley. And by the time their pitching catches up, Justin Smoak will probably be in the big leagues tearing it up anyway. What about free agent compensation? Bradley will most likely be a Type A free agent again. Is it worth it to give up the picks and the years and the money for a guy who usually has trouble reaching 400 PAs a year due to health problems? I would think a contending team with a need for offense and a deep farm system would be most likely to gamble on him for a multi-year contract, like the Rays, especially if they could get him for a little less than 10 million a year for 2 or 3 years.

Either way, wouldn’t Texas be smartest to offer him salary arbitration, let him decline, and then let him sign elsewhere and get some draft picks for him. I know he’s been very productive, but Texas has a loaded lineup and his consistent lack of playing time is a big alarm. I think the Rangers aren’t going to be a serious contender next year with their current pitching staff, even if they retained Bradley. And by the time their pitching catches up, Justin Smoak will probably be in the big leagues tearing it up anyway.

]]> By: Sky http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/the-bradley-conundrum/#comment-38693 Sky Thu, 07 Aug 2008 23:06:54 +0000 http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/the-bradley-conundrum/#comment-38693 Dan, if the Yankees think Bradley can play left field, a great lineup would be Bradley in LF, Damon in CF, Nady in RF, and Matsui at DH. Giambi would make a fine DH (ideally at less than $22MM) but Matsui's a liability in the field. And don't get me started on Abreu, who doesn't have Giambi's bat and can't seem to play the field any more. Dan, if the Yankees think Bradley can play left field, a great lineup would be Bradley in LF, Damon in CF, Nady in RF, and Matsui at DH. Giambi would make a fine DH (ideally at less than $22MM) but Matsui’s a liability in the field. And don’t get me started on Abreu, who doesn’t have Giambi’s bat and can’t seem to play the field any more.

]]> By: Ross http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/the-bradley-conundrum/#comment-38689 Ross Thu, 07 Aug 2008 20:28:03 +0000 http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/the-bradley-conundrum/#comment-38689 As a Rangers fan I love the guy as a teammate, a player, and a person. To be honest I wasn't happy when we signed him last winter and figured he would wear out his welcome in the first few months then he'd abandon ship. All he has done is be a great teammate and happen to tear the cover off the ball, especially in Arlington. He has had some injury issues but nothing serious. It seems to me that it has been small injuries that the team is holding him back so they don't risk it keeping him out for an extended period of time. With that said I expect him to sign a 3 year deal with the Rangers worth between $24-30 million. As a Rangers fan I love the guy as a teammate, a player, and a person. To be honest I wasn’t happy when we signed him last winter and figured he would wear out his welcome in the first few months then he’d abandon ship. All he has done is be a great teammate and happen to tear the cover off the ball, especially in Arlington. He has had some injury issues but nothing serious. It seems to me that it has been small injuries that the team is holding him back so they don’t risk it keeping him out for an extended period of time.

With that said I expect him to sign a 3 year deal with the Rangers worth between $24-30 million.

]]> By: Jason http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/the-bradley-conundrum/#comment-38685 Jason Thu, 07 Aug 2008 17:05:00 +0000 http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/the-bradley-conundrum/#comment-38685 Dave, not that I'm in favor of the M's signing Bradley, but how do you think he does in Safeco? Dave, not that I’m in favor of the M’s signing Bradley, but how do you think he does in Safeco?

]]> By: dan http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/the-bradley-conundrum/#comment-38683 dan Thu, 07 Aug 2008 16:55:22 +0000 http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/the-bradley-conundrum/#comment-38683 Yankees aren't signing him.... they already have 3 well-paid outfielders and a DH under contract for next season. If they sign an offensive player, it will be a first baseman to replace Giambi. Yankees aren’t signing him…. they already have 3 well-paid outfielders and a DH under contract for next season. If they sign an offensive player, it will be a first baseman to replace Giambi.

]]> By: drew226 http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/the-bradley-conundrum/#comment-38681 drew226 Thu, 07 Aug 2008 16:06:50 +0000 http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/the-bradley-conundrum/#comment-38681 I agree. I highly doubt he would go for the offer I proposed but I was just answering Dave’s question. I'd even consider bumping up the dough to maybe 10mil the first year to be competitive with other potential suitors but I would still want some control after that first year. I'd hate to have 11-13 mil sitting on the DL for most of the year, especially for a team that is a "piece or two" away from contending. Those clubs couldn’t handle that type of roster hit, otherwise they wouldn’t be a piece or two away. I just took a quick look at Bradley's game log. He's played in 92 of a possible 115 games. 7 of the 92 games he's played appear to be pinch hitting role, mostly likely result of a nagging injury that limited him to pinch hitting duties. Essentially he's been unavailable for about 25% of his team’s games. He’s on pace for 119 games played. This would be his second best games played total and he's still been dinged up to the tune of 23 games missed and 7 pinch hit games or two DL stints, if you will. I don't see him continuing this trend (Wow 120 games a year!) and I wouldn't think it prudent to lock this guy up long term. On second thought, I didn't think Carlos Silva would get a 4 yr deal worth over 40 million, so I guess anything is possible. It's a shame that Bradley has had some many injuries and has had so many on and off field issues. Imagine the numbers he could have put up if he could have managed to stay on the field? I agree. I highly doubt he would go for the offer I proposed but I was just answering Dave’s question. I’d even consider bumping up the dough to maybe 10mil the first year to be competitive with other potential suitors but I would still want some control after that first year. I’d hate to have 11-13 mil sitting on the DL for most of the year, especially for a team that is a “piece or two” away from contending. Those clubs couldn’t handle that type of roster hit, otherwise they wouldn’t be a piece or two away.

I just took a quick look at Bradley’s game log. He’s played in 92 of a possible 115 games. 7 of the 92 games he’s played appear to be pinch hitting role, mostly likely result of a nagging injury that limited him to pinch hitting duties. Essentially he’s been unavailable for about 25% of his team’s games. He’s on pace for 119 games played. This would be his second best games played total and he’s still been dinged up to the tune of 23 games missed and 7 pinch hit games or two DL stints, if you will. I don’t see him continuing this trend (Wow 120 games a year!) and I wouldn’t think it prudent to lock this guy up long term.

On second thought, I didn’t think Carlos Silva would get a 4 yr deal worth over 40 million, so I guess anything is possible.

It’s a shame that Bradley has had some many injuries and has had so many on and off field issues. Imagine the numbers he could have put up if he could have managed to stay on the field?

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