Milton Bradley

By the end of the Winter Meetings, most people believed that Milton Bradley would return to the Padres on a 1-year deal worth $4 milion. Well, those people were wrong. Today, the Texas Rangers and OF Milton Bradley have agreed on a one-year contract worth approximately $5 million plus incentives. Bradley injured his knee in an argument with umpire Mike Winters on Sept. 23, had surgery on Sept. 27 and was expected to be out at least six months. That would take him right up to Opening Day and he may end up needing more time to get ready. Either way the Rangers are satisfied with this signing. Last year, Milton hit .306 with 13 home runs and 37 RBIs in 61 games and 209 at-bats for the Padres and the Athletics. Multiply that production to 162 games, and thats a pretty darn good middle of the order presence.

In other news, the Yankees are close to signing reliever Latroy Hawkins to a one-year deal worth $3.75 million dollars. The Rockies and Rangers were also in on Hawkins who was 2-5 with a 3.42 ERA in 62 games last season.

The Brewers have agreed to a deal with Free Agent CL Eric Gagne. The deal is rumored to be for 1 year and $10 million dollars with incentives.

Report: Brewers closing in on Gange

With the loss of CL Fransisco Cordero to the Reds and SU Scott Linebrink to the White Sox, the Brewers bullpen is in a flux. The Brewers GM has been working hard to build a solid bullpen for his team by trading for RHP Guillimero Mota, Salomon Torres, signing RP David Riske, and now close to signing former All-Star CL Eric Gagne. Gange has expressed his desire to closing and the National League. Well. this deal makes all the sense in the world for Gagne and the Brewers are now forming a good bullpen for the '08 season. Heres a look at the Brewers '08 pen' as of today (assuming Gagne signs with the Brew Crew):

• CL Eric Gagne
• SU David Riske
• SU Derrick Turnbow
• MR Salomon Torres
• MR Guillimero Mota
• MR Matt Wise
  
• LR Brian Shouse
  

Not too shabby considering you lost your closer and #1 set-up guy via free agency. But if, for some reason, Gagne doesn't sign with the Brewers, this bullpen will be just mediocre again.
Gange was 2-0 with a 2.16 ERA and 16 SV with the Rangers, and 2-2 with a 6.75 ERA and 0 SV with the Red Sox. Thats an overall of 4-2 3.81 ERA and 16-20 in save opportunities.