Milton Bradley’s season and maybe his terribly disappointing Mariners career could be over after he underwent surgery to repair torn cartilage in his right knee Tuesday.
Bradley hadn’t played for the Mariners since July 26. If he had undergone surgery right away, perhaps he would have been ready to return right around Sept. 1. However, he chose to wait three weeks. It’s still possible that he could make it back for the final two weeks of the season, but the Mariners probably don’t care much one way of the other.
Bradley, acquired from the Cubs for Carlos Silva in an exchange of unwanted properties over the winter, hit just .205/.292/.358 with eight homers and 29 RBI in 244 at-bats for the Mariners. Since leading the AL in OPS with the Rangers in 2008, he’s driven in a total of 69 runs in 197 games for the Cubs and Mariners.
Of course, he’s earned $18 million during that time. And he’s guaranteed another $12 million next year under the terms of the deal Cubs GM Jim Hendry gave him in Jan. 2009. The final year of the contract was voidable if Bradley spent enough time on the DL during his first season with the Cubs, but he remained relatively healthy then and it contained no provisions for any injuries suffered during the 2010 season.
The Mariners will undoubtedly attempt to move Bradley this winter, knowing they’ll have to kick in a load of money or take on another bad contract in order to make it happen. Even that might be enough. With so many teams likely to have serious concerns about whether he can contribute at all, it’s possible no one will want to risk taking on his issues.
Phils’ Hoskins tears knee, expected to miss significant time
Dave Nelson/USA TODAY Sports
CLEARWATER, Fla. — Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Rhys Hoskins needs surgery for a torn ACL after injuring his left knee Thursday fielding a grounder in a spring training game and is expected to miss a significant amount of time.
The Phillies did not say when Hoskins would have the surgery or exactly how long the slugging first baseman might be sidelined.
Hoskins hit 30 homers with 79 RBIs last season for the reigning National League champions.
He was backing up to play a chopper on Thursday when the ball popped out of his glove. Sooner after, he fell to the ground and began clutching his left knee. Teammates gathered around him before he was taken off of the field.
Hoskins, a free agent at the end of the season who turned 30 last week, hit six homers in Philadelphia’s playoff run last season. The Phillies lost to the Houston Astros in the World Series.
The injury was another blow for the Phillies, who will be without top pitching prospect Andrew Painter for another few weeks because of a sprained ligament in his right elbow. And slugger Bryce Harper isn’t expected back until around the All-Star break after undergoing Tommy John surgery in November.