Bradley apologizes, so issue 'over'

MILWAUKEE - The strange, sad and bizarre saga of Milton Bradley and the Cubs is over, at least for now.

Bradley, through his agents, issued a statement in which he apologized "for those things that did not work out for the better."

Cubs general manager Jim Hendry affirmed that Bradley has been suspended with pay by the club and that no grievance will be filed by the players association challenging the suspension.

Bradley will sit out the remainder of this season, the first of a three-year, $30 million deal Hendry gave him last winter. Hendry would not discuss what the Cubs would do with Bradley beyond this year, but he most assuredly will trade Bradley and eat most of the $21 million he has coming for the next two seasons.

"It's done," said Hendry, who seemed irritated with writers' questions. "There's nothing. It's over. There's no story. There's no story, just like I told you 48 hours ago there wouldn't be."

Before Wednesday night's game against the Brewers, the Cubs handed out copies of Bradley's statement to reporters:

"I chose Chicago as a free agent because I wanted to be part of finally bringing a championship to Cubs' fans. I expected to have a great season and I am deeply disappointed by my performance and the team's struggles. I played every game with everything I had and wanted desperately to win. My frustration and disappointment boiled over and I said and did certain things that I regret. In hindsight I wish that I handled certain things differently and I apologize for those things that did not work out for the better.

"The air has been cleared and we all want to move on and look forward to better days."

Bradley, 31, got little to no support from his teammates after the Cubs suspended him Sunday. It was a season of controversy and confrontation for Bradley, who sparred with umpires, his manager, at least one coach and the media.

The Cubs said it was a culmination of things that led to the suspension. Bradley had been bothered by an inflamed knee of late, and team sources said he refused to pinch hit Saturday in St. Louis, leading to a confrontation with hitting coach Von Joshua.

Earlier that day, Bradley told the Daily Herald that he hadn't enjoyed his time with the Cubs because of "negativity," sparing no one, not even the organization.

Hendry suspended Bradley on Sunday, and Cubs players were of a mind that Bradley needed to look at himself.

Because the Cubs weren't talking publicly about the suspension, speculation outside of Chicago arose that the players association would file a grievance and perhaps get the suspension overturned.

"MLB's notified," Hendry said. "The union knows. Everybody knows. Everybody signed off, and it's done."

As far as what happens next year, Hendry said that would take care of itself in the off-season.

"We will evaluate everything after the season's over," he said. "He's not coming back this year. He has two years remaining on his contract. We'll finish the season and get together and start working on '10."

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