Rangers offer Bradley salary arbitration Arlington, TX (Sports Network) - The Texas Rangers want draft picks if
Milton Bradley does not return next season, as the club offered the outfielder
salary arbitration on Monday.
Bradley, the Type-B free agent, batted .321 with 22 homers and 77 runs batted
in during 126 games last season. If he declines arbitration and signs
elsewhere, the Rangers will be rewarded with a supplemental first-round pick
in the June 2009 draft.
The club also announced that pitchers Jason Jennings and Jamey Wright along
with infielder Ramon Vazquez were not offered salary arbit... More...
The Detroit Tigers have a need for a catcher, and they are interested in acquiring the services of current Rangers backstop Gerald Laird, according to the Detroit Free Press.
Our View:The Rangers have a plethora of young catching talent, so Laird is likely available for the right price. His offense can fluctuate, but for his career he has thrown out 38 percent of runners attempting to steal.
The Blue Jays now seem unlikely to target any big-name free agent outside of pitcher A.J. Burnett, MLB.com reports. "The last three weeks has changed a lot of thinking," interim president and CEO Paul Beeston says of the economic situation. "The biggest decision we have to make is what direction we're going to go with the team. We can spend $100 million, but if it doesn't make sense, why do it?" The Blue Jays were previously thought to be a leading contender for Milton Bradley.
Our View:This report won't bring many cheers among Blue Jays fans. We'll see if the club changes their tune again before or during the Winter Meetings on December 8-11.
The Mets inquired about Rangers' catcher Gerald Laird, according to Newsday.
Our View:They contacted him earlier in the off-season and believe they need an upgrade at catcher, but are now focusing on adding to their pitching staff, namely a top closer.
