Cubs downplay rumors of Bradley trade, Cameron signing

INDIANAPOLIS - The winter meetings hadn't officially even begun Sunday, and the Cubs were busy downplaying one trade rumor involving Milton Bradley.

One Internet report had the Cubs waiting on signing free-agent outfielder Mike Cameron only until a trade of Bradley was complete. That trade was said to have been "imminent" for 72 hours.

Nothing would have made Cubs general manager Jim Hendry happier, but he walked into the lobby of the Marriott hotel seemingly as unaware of a deal as anybody else.

Hendry would like to move Bradley this week, but it's still up in the air as to whether that can happen.

The Tampa Bay Rays and the Texas Rangers, probably in that order, are the leading candidates to make serious pitches for Bradley, whom Hendry suspended Sept. 20 for conduct detrimental to the team.

Bradley has $21 million coming over the next two years, and the Cubs insist they will not release him outright.

Non-story: The Cubs viewed as a complete non-story quotes attributed to manager Lou Piniella in a published report that he might want to manage the Cubs beyond 2010.

Piniella's contract runs through the 2010 season.

"Let's just wait and see," was about the strongest quote attributed to Piniella, who indirectly provided the comment to the Chicago Sun-Times.

There was nothing new in the story. Piniella has maintained this position all along.

"We've never talked about it," Jim Hendry said Sunday. "I'm not worried about it at all. Lou and I have been good together. We never talked about him retiring or continuing. It's not an issue for me.

"We'll go out and play in 2010 and worry about it after that. It's not an issue at all."

Hendry sounded like he'd be happy if Piniella, 66, came back after next season.

"It's too early to talk about it," he said. "He's got a good enough relationship with me, whatever feelings he wants to talk about, I think we'll both focus on just trying to get back on track and be a contender again. I'm not worried about it. He's not worried about it."