Further improving the worst hitting team in the National League, the San
Diego Padres inched closer to securing a
three-peat of the National League Western Division title with the recent acquisition
of outfielder Milton Bradley.
In return, the San Diego Padres only had to send the Oakland A’s a minor
league pitcher, who didn’t appear to be in the Padres plans, and $1.3 million
to cover part of Bradley’s salary. Like the other recent trade for the equally
controversial player Michael
Barrett, the Padres would appear to have gotten the better end of the deal.
Mostly remembered for his on-and-off the field anger-management issues,
Bradley possesses above average power, which the San Diego Padres offense
sorely needs, to match his above average defensive skills. He’s a career .271 hitter, his best season coming in 2004 with
the Los Angeles Dodgers when he hit .267 with 19 home runs and 67 RBIs. With
the A’s this year, he was hitting .292 with two home runs and seven RBIs.
His downside: injuries. And sure enough, he began his career
as a San Diego Padre on the disabled list. Activated for a July 7 match up
against the Atlanta Braves, Bradley has nonetheless proven his value. In his
first 8 games for the Padres, the switch-hitting Bradley is batting .286 and
has a .375 on base percentage and four runs batted in. And his first home run
as a Padre: a 427-foot monster blast that stands as one of the longest balls
hit in Petco Park history.
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