<div class="mod-article-title"> <div class="date"> <span>Updated:</span> December 18, 2009, 2:03 PM ET </div> <div class="headline"> <h2>Cubs trade Bradley to Seattle</h2> </div> <div class="subhead"> <div class="page-actions"> <font color="#999999">Comment</font> <font color="#999999">Email</font> <font color="#999999">Print</font> <a id="espnstlink" style="BACKGROUND: url(<a target="_blank" href=">http://a.espncdn.com/icons/share-icon-12x12.png)</a> no-repeat left top" href="javascript:void(0);" st_page="home"><font color="#999999">Share</font> </div><cite class="source">ESPN.com news services
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The <font color="#225FB2">Mariners</font> and <font color="#225FB2">Chicago Cubs</font> have announced a trade sending right-handed pitcher <font color="#225FB2">Carlos Silva</font> to Seattle for outfielder <font color="#225FB2">Milton Bradley</font>.</p> <div class="mod-inline headshot floatright"> <div> The Cubs were said to be looking for some relief either in cash or another player, sources told ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney. </div> </div>
</p>
It is not known how much cash the Cubs were to receive in exchange for Bradley. But it was believed to be enough to allow the Cubs to pursue some of their other needs, such as a center fielder and a set-up man, Levine reported. The Cubs have seen Silva's medical reports and watched him pitch in Venezuela the past seven to 10 days.</p>
</p>
That would allow the Cubs to move <font color="#225FB2">Kosuke Fukudome</font> back to right field. They've expressed interest in free agents including <font color="#225FB2">Marlon Byrd</font>, <font color="#225FB2">Rick Ankiel</font> and <font color="#225FB2">Scott Podsednik</font>. But they've also explored potential trades for a center fielder -- most prominently, <font color="#225FB2">Curtis Granderson</font> before he was traded to the <font color="#225FB2">New York Yankees</font>.</p>
</p>
Silva is still owed $25 million over the last two years of his contract. Bradley is owed about $23 million.</p>
</p>
Bradley was suspended at the end of the regular season after repeatedly making inflammatory statements and having run-ins with reporters, and within the Chicago organization, it was seen as an imperative to trade Bradley before the start of the 2010 season.</p>
</p>
Because of his high salary and his long history of injuries, there was little interest in Bradley. But as far back as October, rival executives had pegged the potential swap of Bradley for Silva as the best possible matchup for both sides, because the amount of money owed to both players is so similar and because the respective teams were looking to dump the players.</p>
</p>
When a Silva-for-Bradley swap was initially proposed at the winter meetings, the Cubs expressed little or no interest. However, talks with the <font color="#225FB2">Tampa Bay Rays</font> and <font color="#225FB2">Texas Rangers</font> stalled. The Mariners then told the Cubs they'd consider adding cash to the deal.</p>
</p>
And momentum toward a deal "gained steam" early Friday, a source told ESPN.com's Jayson Stark.</p>
</p>
Bradley batted .257 with 12 home runs and 40 runs batted in last season. He has a .277 career batting average, but his time in the majors has been beset by injuries and run-ins with teammates and fans. Through 2009, he's played for seven teams in nine seasons, with 115 HRs and 439 RBIs.</p>
</p>
Silva signed a four-year, $48 million deal with the Mariners after the 2008 season and has been a disappointment in Seattle, going 5-18 the past two seasons. He appeared in eight games last season, going 1-3 with an 8.60 ERA.</p>
</p>
For his career, he's 60-64 with two saves and a 4.72 ERA in 295 appearances with the Phillies, Twins and Mariners.</p>
</cite> </div> </div>
The <font color="#225FB2">Mariners</font> and <font color="#225FB2">Chicago Cubs</font> have announced a trade sending right-handed pitcher <font color="#225FB2">Carlos Silva</font> to Seattle for outfielder <font color="#225FB2">Milton Bradley</font>.</p> <div class="mod-inline headshot floatright"> <div> The Cubs were said to be looking for some relief either in cash or another player, sources told ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney. </div> </div>
</p>
It is not known how much cash the Cubs were to receive in exchange for Bradley. But it was believed to be enough to allow the Cubs to pursue some of their other needs, such as a center fielder and a set-up man, Levine reported. The Cubs have seen Silva's medical reports and watched him pitch in Venezuela the past seven to 10 days.</p>
</p>
That would allow the Cubs to move <font color="#225FB2">Kosuke Fukudome</font> back to right field. They've expressed interest in free agents including <font color="#225FB2">Marlon Byrd</font>, <font color="#225FB2">Rick Ankiel</font> and <font color="#225FB2">Scott Podsednik</font>. But they've also explored potential trades for a center fielder -- most prominently, <font color="#225FB2">Curtis Granderson</font> before he was traded to the <font color="#225FB2">New York Yankees</font>.</p>
</p>
Silva is still owed $25 million over the last two years of his contract. Bradley is owed about $23 million.</p>
</p>
Bradley was suspended at the end of the regular season after repeatedly making inflammatory statements and having run-ins with reporters, and within the Chicago organization, it was seen as an imperative to trade Bradley before the start of the 2010 season.</p>
</p>
Because of his high salary and his long history of injuries, there was little interest in Bradley. But as far back as October, rival executives had pegged the potential swap of Bradley for Silva as the best possible matchup for both sides, because the amount of money owed to both players is so similar and because the respective teams were looking to dump the players.</p>
</p>
When a Silva-for-Bradley swap was initially proposed at the winter meetings, the Cubs expressed little or no interest. However, talks with the <font color="#225FB2">Tampa Bay Rays</font> and <font color="#225FB2">Texas Rangers</font> stalled. The Mariners then told the Cubs they'd consider adding cash to the deal.</p>
</p>
And momentum toward a deal "gained steam" early Friday, a source told ESPN.com's Jayson Stark.</p>
</p>
Bradley batted .257 with 12 home runs and 40 runs batted in last season. He has a .277 career batting average, but his time in the majors has been beset by injuries and run-ins with teammates and fans. Through 2009, he's played for seven teams in nine seasons, with 115 HRs and 439 RBIs.</p>
</p>
Silva signed a four-year, $48 million deal with the Mariners after the 2008 season and has been a disappointment in Seattle, going 5-18 the past two seasons. He appeared in eight games last season, going 1-3 with an 8.60 ERA.</p>
</p>
For his career, he's 60-64 with two saves and a 4.72 ERA in 295 appearances with the Phillies, Twins and Mariners.</p>
