i mean, time will tell, but at this point he's just a AA prospect. the A's won big on this deal, it seems.

But if the A's can stay healthy all year, this is one helluva team.

Bill just made a great trade.

I agree with fanerman. It's a shame that the A's don't have any room for Choi too.

Must have been Jeff Kent personalities in Montreal and Cleveland as well. I know you really like Bradley, Uncle Miltie, but you are too quick to blame his problems on Kent. Not all of his problems are Jeff Kent related(most aren't). I know when people think someone is being unfairly criticized they tend to push back the other way and I think you might be doing that in your defense of Bradley. I wish him the best though and will be rooting him on as well

"SEE A DIFFERENT GAME: Why the club sat OF Milton Bradley on the bench for three days before sending him to Class AAA is unclear. Perhaps it wanted to teach him a lesson by malting him see what he was missing. If Bradley isn't able to control a penchant for being negative, he could damage his career. He had a reputation for being difficult in the minors, and he hasn't put it behind him. Ultimately, he has to decide if the "everybody's against me" anger that fueled his rise to the big leagues might hurt him more than help him as he tries to establish himself as a big-league player. -Stephanie Myles "

I wonder though about the money and years associated with these two Dodger players (none of the reports specified this - roughly 3M together last year). It looks like the A's budget is kinda flexible, given that they don't appear desperate to trade Zito.

Also, Rincon signed with another team. Not too many ways remaining for Macha to screw up.

In Cleveland, he got along with his teammates. The guy he didn't get along with was Eric Wedge (a great manager), who apparently acts like a drill sergeant. Blame definitely deserves some blame here, but I think he really needs a more laid back manager. He got along very well with Jim Tracy. Tracy obviously liked Bradley enough to have Pittsburgh's GM to pursue him. Bradley should have no problem playing for Ken Macha.

Here's what a couple of A's players said about the trade:
"We're very relaxed, no one really interferes with anyone's business," center fielder Mark Kotsay said. "I've never been in a clubhouse where there's less ego. I've had fun seeing Milton as an opposing player because I love his intensity, so I can't see anything negative about him coming over here. He'll have no problem fitting in with us."

Shortstop Bobby Crosby echoed Kotsay's sentiments, saying the Oakland clubhouse can absorb any personality, and, he added with a laugh, "I've seen Bradley get fired up - I like that. We have a lot of guys who are calm and laid-back -- I'd like to see someone fired up."

I wonder if Milton will agree to play corner outfield, and whether he will mesh with Kotsay in the outfield (Swisher clearly defers to him). I vaguely recall a rather brusque assertion from him that he would be the centerfielder, when some reporter asked him if he would move over for J.D. Drew (when the Dodgers bought Drew).

The other issue with the great depth is that the whole reason Oakland was able to pick up Jay Payton last year is because he complained his way out of Boston because he wasn't getting to play. I don't know if the A's will have him around unless they're planning on playing him 120+ games. With Frank Thomas on the team, I don't think he'd even come close to that.

But don't the vast expanses of foul territory in Oakland require that the corner outfielders have some range as well?

www.sabrdodgers.blogspot.com

I linked you, and I think it is great for Dodger fan's to hear your opinion on the deal.

1) I love this trade. The best hope for Andre Ethier is that he turns into Milton Bradley, and even that would be a few years down the line. The A's are good enough to win now, and should be going after it.

2) The A's should still try to sign Frank Thomas. A lineup with Bradley and Thomas would be excellent, and plus, as Ken said, we have a few guys who are going to miss games with injuries, so depth can't hurt.

3) Wither Bobby Kielty and Marco Scutaro?
Who cares

4) Hopefully Payton won't bitch about being the 4th outfielder, given that he'll likely get playing time anyway due to matchups and injuries, but if he does, fuck him. Realistically, on a good team, he is a fourth outfielder. If he's not happy, eat his contract and ditch him.

I was at a party, so this might not be that coherent. Still, I reiterate that I love this trade.

Here's hoping that Ethier keeps up his progress!