pmeares17
07-31-2001, 08:22 PM
CLEVELAND -- Needing an offensive spark for the playoff drive and a future center fielder, the Cleveland Indians acquired Milton Bradley from Montreal for minor league pitcher Zach Day on Tuesday.
The Indians, who have had their eye on Bradley as a possible replacement for Kenny Lofton for months, completed the deal about two hours before the 4 p.m. ET trading deadline.
"In Milton Bradley we are getting a top-of-the-order, middle of the diamond player we feel will have a major impact at the major league level in the near future," Indians general manager John Hart said. "He's a multi-tooled player who can run the ball down in center field."
The arrival of the 23-year-old Bradley appears to indicate that Lofton's days with the Indians are numbered.
Bradley, who has been optioned to Triple-A Buffalo for the time being, can bat leadoff and steal bases, something that the 34-year-old Lofton no longer tries.
Bradley has spent the season shuffling between the Expos and Triple-A Ottawa.
In 67 games for Montreal, he batted .223 with 16 doubles, one homer and 19 RBI. He also stole seven bases before being sent down on June 23.
With the Lynx, Bradley batted .272 with two homers and 13 RBI while stealing 14 bases and getting caught just once.
Bradley also has a reputation for being an aggressive player with some attitude.
In 1999, he batted .329 at Double-A Harrisburg but was also suspended for seven games that season for triggering a benches-clearing brawl after being hit by a pitch.
He finished that year in style, however, by hitting a two-out grand slam in the bottom of the ninth as Harrisburg beat Norwich 12-11 in the deciding Game 5 of the Eastern League final.
Day, 23, was acquired from the Yankees along with right-hander Jake Westbrook on July 25 last season to complete the deal that sent David Justice to New York for Ricky Ledee.
The right-hander went 9-10 with a 3.10 ERA this season at Double-A Akron, and was 1-0 with a 1.50 ERA in one start for Buffalo.
The Indians are loaded with several young pitchers like Day, who became expendable as the club searched for the missing piece while trying to hold off the Minnesota Twins.
Lofton is in his final season under contract with the Indians, who exercised their $8 million option on the six-time All-Star during the offseason.
After a decent start, Lofton has struggled offensively and in the field this year. Once an ignitor with his speed and a .306 career batting average, Lofton was dropped to the bottom of the batting order by manager Charlie Manuel earlier this season.
But nothing has helped and Lofton entered Tuesday night's game batting just .240 with seven homers, 36 RBI and 10 stolen bases. Lofton led the AL in steals from 1992-97 and is the club's career leader in that category.
Hart, in his final season as the Indians' GM, recently doubted if the Indians would do anything before the deadline. But this deal marks the seventh straight year that Hart has made at least one trade before July 31.
The Indians, who have had their eye on Bradley as a possible replacement for Kenny Lofton for months, completed the deal about two hours before the 4 p.m. ET trading deadline.
"In Milton Bradley we are getting a top-of-the-order, middle of the diamond player we feel will have a major impact at the major league level in the near future," Indians general manager John Hart said. "He's a multi-tooled player who can run the ball down in center field."
The arrival of the 23-year-old Bradley appears to indicate that Lofton's days with the Indians are numbered.
Bradley, who has been optioned to Triple-A Buffalo for the time being, can bat leadoff and steal bases, something that the 34-year-old Lofton no longer tries.
Bradley has spent the season shuffling between the Expos and Triple-A Ottawa.
In 67 games for Montreal, he batted .223 with 16 doubles, one homer and 19 RBI. He also stole seven bases before being sent down on June 23.
With the Lynx, Bradley batted .272 with two homers and 13 RBI while stealing 14 bases and getting caught just once.
Bradley also has a reputation for being an aggressive player with some attitude.
In 1999, he batted .329 at Double-A Harrisburg but was also suspended for seven games that season for triggering a benches-clearing brawl after being hit by a pitch.
He finished that year in style, however, by hitting a two-out grand slam in the bottom of the ninth as Harrisburg beat Norwich 12-11 in the deciding Game 5 of the Eastern League final.
Day, 23, was acquired from the Yankees along with right-hander Jake Westbrook on July 25 last season to complete the deal that sent David Justice to New York for Ricky Ledee.
The right-hander went 9-10 with a 3.10 ERA this season at Double-A Akron, and was 1-0 with a 1.50 ERA in one start for Buffalo.
The Indians are loaded with several young pitchers like Day, who became expendable as the club searched for the missing piece while trying to hold off the Minnesota Twins.
Lofton is in his final season under contract with the Indians, who exercised their $8 million option on the six-time All-Star during the offseason.
After a decent start, Lofton has struggled offensively and in the field this year. Once an ignitor with his speed and a .306 career batting average, Lofton was dropped to the bottom of the batting order by manager Charlie Manuel earlier this season.
But nothing has helped and Lofton entered Tuesday night's game batting just .240 with seven homers, 36 RBI and 10 stolen bases. Lofton led the AL in steals from 1992-97 and is the club's career leader in that category.
Hart, in his final season as the Indians' GM, recently doubted if the Indians would do anything before the deadline. But this deal marks the seventh straight year that Hart has made at least one trade before July 31.