After seeking gold with Bradley, Cubs now settle for Silva

Cubs general manager Jim Hendry likened last winter's signing of Milton Bradley to "going for the gold."

The Bradley experience turned into fool's gold for the Cubs, who unloaded their recalcitrant right fielder Friday to the Seattle Mariners for right-handed pitcher Carlos Silva and cash considerations.

In addition to Silva, the Cubs will get $9 million from Seattle. About $3 million will go to cover the difference between the two players' salaries, and the other $6 million is "salary relief" for the Cubs for 2010 and 2011.

Thus ends one of the strangest chapters in Cubs history. Hendry signed Bradley to a three-year, $30 million contract last January, hoping that Bradley's combination of on-base and slugging ability would push the Cubs over the top.

As it turned out, Bradley didn't even finish the season with the Cubs, as Hendry suspended him for the final two weeks of the season for "conduct detrimental to the team."

"This was one of those high-risk, high-reward (moves) that I decided to take to try to go for the gold, and obviously it didn't work," said Hendry, who repeated several times that he bore full responsibility for the Bradley debacle. "I guess we can ask anybody in my position, every now and then, you have one that you think may really be good for you, and it doesn't work. The game's full of that. It happens. I certainly wouldn't like to make it a habit in my career.

"The way I look back, when we did it, I still think everybody felt like we were favored to win the Central. I think when we left camp, everybody saw the kind of player that he could have been."

Bradley, who was coming off a solid year with the Texas Rangers in 2008, played in 124 games with the Cubs. He batted .257 with 12 home runs, 40 RBI, an on-base percentage of .378 and a slugging percentage of .397.

However, he was suspended by Major League Baseball for making contact with an umpire during his first game at Wrigley Field. He had a run-in with manager Lou Piniella. He talked of "hatred and adversity" from the fans at Wrigley Field. Finally, in September, he told the Daily Herald that he could understand why the Cubs hadn't won World Series in more than 100 years.

The next day, Hendry sent him home, much to the delight of his teammates, who praised the suspension.

So why did it all go wrong?

"I think the bottom line was he just got off to such a bad start and the expectations were so high for all of us," Hendry said. "Obviously, when expectations weren't met, and the criticism started in his direction, I certainly don't think he handled it well. Once you go down that path, as you know, we're playing on the big stage. If you want the big stage, you've got to be able to perform on the big stage.

"I always look at myself. My intentions were just going for the levels higher, that we were close to, but hadn't reached. I think every player would tell you that they're responsible for their own performance. Yeah, I would think he would think he should have performed better. But I'm not going to speak for him."

In a separate conference call, Bradley said he had no interesting in talking about Chicago.

The Cubs had explored trading Bradley during the season, but found no takers. During the off-season and at the winter meetings in Indianapolis, the Tampa Bay Rays seemed to be the front-runners, with the possibility of outfielder Pat Burrell coming to the Cubs. The Rangers, Angels and Mets also were in the picture, and Hendry said the Seattle deal didn't take shape until the past few days.

"It's really had a lot of twists and turns," he said. "At one point, there were statements of 'illusions' of teams. I'm here to tell you, there were always as many teams as I told you there were. Some of them came and went. Some of them stayed constant in the process. Some of them obviously tried to work different kind of deals or better deals for their own self-interest. The closer we got through Indy and during Indy and then the last week, obviously, two new clubs came on the scene.

"At the end of the day, we probably could have had two or three different deals. We felt this was a good one for us because it does give us somebody that could be part of the staff. At the same time, obviously, we were fortunate enough to receive some cash back in the deal that will help us fill in some cracks on the club now."

In Silva, the Cubs are getting a once highly coveted pitcher who has suffered two down years at Seattle after signing a four-year, $48 million deal to leave the Minnesota Twins after the 2007 season.

This year, Silva was 1-3 with an 8.60 ERA as he battled shoulder inflammation. In 2008, he was 4-15 with a 6.46 ERA. He has a lifetime record of 60-62 with a 4.72 ERA. He has been pitching winter ball in his home country of Venezuela, and the Cubs said he threw 89-92 mph in his most recent outing.

Silva is likely to compete for the fifth spot in the Cubs' starting rotation. He also could wind up as a long reliever.

"He is healthy," Hendry said. "He's 30 years old. His stuff's still pretty solid. He was 89-92 (mph) last night with a good sinker. For whatever reason, it didn't work there (Seattle). This may be the classic 'change of scenery' for both people. Maybe they can both get a fresh start and perform the way that they used to. It seems like a solid gamble."

Silva will make $11.5 million in each of the next two seasons. There is a mutual option for 2012 worth $12 million, or a $2 million buyout. Bradley has $21 million coming over the next two seasons.

The Cubs will concentrate next on getting a veteran right-handed reliever and a center fielder. Hendry insisted that he was not held hostage financially by the Bradley situation.

"The biggest perception that was probably inaccurate was that we couldn't do anything until Milton was gone," Hendry said.

<div class="infoBox"> <h1>More Coverage</h1> <div class="infoBoxContent"> <div class="infoArea"> <h2>Stories</h2> <ul class="links"> <li><a href="/story/?id=345294">'Honest and loyal,' Bradley moves on to his 8th team<span class="date"> [12/18/09]</span></a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=345320">Bradley time line<span class="date"> [12/18/09]</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> <p class="factboxheadblack">Silva vs. Bradley <p class="News">Although the Cubs will get $9 million from Seattle after swapping 31-year-old outfielder Milton Bradley for 30-year-old pitcher Carlos Silva, here's a look at the 2009 seasons for each player:</p> <p class="leadin">Silva in 2009</p> <p class="News">Games played: 8</p> <p class="News">Record: 1-3 </p> <p class="News">ERA: 8.60WHIP: 1.71 (walks+hits per inning)</p> <p class="leadin">Bradley in 2009</p> <p class="News">Games played: 124</p> <p class="News">Batting avg.: .257 </p> <p class="News">HR/RBI: 12/40</p> <p class="News">OBP %: .378</p> <p class="News">SLG %: .397</p>