Milton Bradley: Batty Bait for All-Star Fishes?

Million-dollar smile. Impeccable sense of style. Unshakable penchant for absolutely decimating a clubhouse. What's not to like, potential suitors? Oh, right ... Image via Wikipedia

From today’s Chicago Sun-Times:

Don’t blame the Cubs if they look around the Puget Sound area for some more booty as they arrive in Seattle to face the Mariners barely six months after pulling off what looks like the half-season trade of the century in baseball — getting probable All-Star pitcher Carlos Silva (8-2) and a sizable bag of cash from the M’s for malcontent outfielder Milton Bradley (.215 and two weeks off in May to get his head examined).

That’s actually the second time a Bradley trade has produced a gem. In 2005, the Los Angeles Dodgers landed OF Andre Ethier from the Oakland Athletics. At the time, Ethier was a relatively unknown minor leaguer years away from starring at Chavez Ravine … and offering some all-star dining advice.

This season, the 2009 Silver Slugger was threatening to take home the triple crown — leading the National League in batting average (.392), home runs (11) and RBI (38) — before breaking his pinkie on May 14. Still, the right fielder is projected to bat .318, hit 33 homers and collect 120 RBI this season. Ethier will surely figure in All-Star Games to come — much like the Cubs’ Silva, apparently.

If I’m Seattle’s GM, I’m jumping at any offer for Bradley in hopes of an all-league return. If proposals are not forthcoming (as one must expect), I’m desperately suggesting that Bradley’s difficulties are distant memories and accepting literally anything. Shit, I bet Seattle could persuade the Sandlot kids to deal Benny “The Jet” Rodriguez for Bradley, season tickets and a prospect to be named later.

Granted, this plan isn’t certain. Of five Bradley deals, only two have netted Milton’s former employer a doozy. Yet two-out-of five still makes a success rate of .400 — or nearly double poor Milton’s current batting average.