Giants cap off Wild Trade Deadline with Acquisition of All-Star Bryant

Major League Baseball had one of its crazier trade deadlines in recent memory on Friday, if not the craziest of all-time. By the 1pm cutoff time, 4pm if you're on the east coast, baseball fans who are less than three weeks removed from watching the MLB All-Star Game played in Denver, saw a record ten All-Stars who played in that Mid-Summer Classic, dealt by the time things were all said and done. With such names as sluggers Joey Gallo of the Texas Rangers and Anthony Rizzo of the Chicago Cubs being dealt to the Bronx from their respectively clubs as the Yankees try to chase down the Tampa Bay Rays and Boston Red Sox in the American League East, as well as Kyle Schwarber heading to Bean Town from our nation's capital, the list of notable names that changed clubhouses goes on and on. But perhaps the biggest blockbuster that caught everyone by surprise, was that of the Los Angeles Dodgers who pulled a Houdini move by snaking a pair of All-Star studs from the nose of the division rival Padres. 

By mid-day Thursday, it appeared that the Padres had gained a tremendous boost in their efforts to overthrow the Dodgers and first-place San Francisco Giants in the National League Western Division when reports swirled that they were close to finalizing a deal that would land them a 4-time Cy Young Award-winner in Max Scherzer. Instead, the pitcher-needy Friars were upended by the rival Dodgers who pulled off a sneak-attack by stealing Scherzer from their grasp, while also adding All-Star shortstop Trea Turner in the process. While the deal did cost a pair of L.A.'s top prospects in return, they added another unbelievable duo to their already star-studded roster, as well as prevent a pair of rivals from adding a dominant arm to their starting rotation, as the Giants were also rumored to be in on Scherzer. After landing All-Star second baseman Adam Frazier from the Pittsburgh Pirates in the days leading up to Friday's deadline, the only additions the Padres had to show for on deadline day were a pair of underwhelming names in relief pitcher Daniel Hudson and outfielder Jake Marisnick who were acquired from the Nationals and Cubs, respectively. 

Just when it appeared that Farhan Zaidi -- general manger of the San Francisco Giants, was going to stay pat at the deadline, the team with the best record in all of baseball waited until the 11th hour before getting in on the action and acquiring Cubs All-Star third baseman/outfielder Kris Bryant. Not long after news broke that the Cubbies were shipping two-time All-Star infielder Javy Baez to Queens to join the New York Mets, the north siders ended their fire sale by sending Bryant out west to the city by the bay to join the Giants. It was a nerve-racking hour or so for Giants fans as reports were unclear on who Zaidi had given up for what could very well be a rental player considering Bryant will be a free-agent at the end of the season, but when it was all said and done, San Francisco got the guy they wanted all along and didn't trade an arm and a leg to get him. In return for Bryant, a former NL MVP and four-time All-Star who says he grew up a fan of Barry Bonds and the Giants, San Francisco gave up a pair of Minor Leaguers in outfielder Alexander Canario and right-handed pitcher Caleb Kilian, their No. 9 and No. 30 prospects, respectively, which was much more calming and somewhat of a relief to hear than their top prospect in catcher Joey Bart and first baseman LaMonte Wade Jr. which was initially rumored. The Giants ended their deadline pursuit by bringing back lefty reliever Tony Watson from the Los Angeles Angels to bolster the bullpen. Watson spent three seasons with the Giants from 2018-20. 

As teams jockey for position in the home stretch of the MLB regular season in preparation of the Postseason, the Giants at 65-39, currently own a 3-game lead over the Dodgers in the division and a 6.5 game advantage over San Diego. The Giants are hopeful that the acquisition of Bryant will help them maintain a stranglehold in the division over both the Dodgers and Padres, two teams that were supposed to be lightyears ahead of the Giants heading into the season. Hitting .267 on the year with 18 home runs and 51 RBI, the Giants will welcome Bryant's versatility with open arms as he's played seven different positions in 2021, while also looking forward to his bat as he's enjoyed success at San Francisco's Oracle Park, boasting a .324 batting average, 5 HR, 3 doubles, a triple and 15 RBI in 17 career games. Speaking to fellow All-Star and now teammate Brandon Crawford, Bryant knew at the All-Star break that there was a possibility he could be dealt, and all that he asked of Cubs President of Baseball Operations Jed Hoyer was that he would be traded to a team contending for a playoff berth like San Francisco. It's safe to say the 29-year old Vegas-native got his wish, as the core three of Bryant, Rizzo and Baez from the curse-breaking 2016 World Series champion Cubs team are all gone. 

Other notable names that changed ballclubs at the deadline include: All-Star closer Craig Kimbrel who the Cubs shipped to the southside of town to join the White Sox and Eduardo Escobar who landed in Milwaukee after being the lone representative in the 2021 All-Star Game for the Arizona Diamondbacks. Like the Cubbies, the Nationals also cleaned house by shipping out a number of big names in addition to Turner and Scherzer, such as Kyle Schwarber who was sent from D.C. to the Red Sox, Yan Gomes and Josh Harison who joined the playoff hopeful Oakland Athletics and 5-time All-Star Jon Lester who joined Wild Card contenders St. Louis. The Minnesota Twins also dealt a pair of All-Stars in pitcher Jose Berrios who landed in Toronto with the Blue Jays and Nelson Cruz who was dealt a few days earlier to the reigning American League Champion Tampa Bay Rays. It's unlikely we'll ever witness a trade deadline quite like this one after seeing 32 different trades which included more than 80 players dealt in total.  

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Arrieta's Double-Shot of No

Cubs pitcher Jake Arrieta is on top of the baseball world. As if hurling a no-hitter last season just 10 starts ago and winning the NL Cy Young Award wasn't enough, the ace of Chicago's staff has already began putting together an even more impressive encore with a dazzling start to the 2016 season. On the road in Cincinnati to face the Reds, Arrieta tossed his second career no-hitter and just the 15th no-hitter in the 141 year history of the Cubs franchise. While the Cubbies ignited the scoreboard with five home runs en route to a 16-0 shellacking of their opponent, the second-largest margin of victory in a no-no, it would be all about the reigning Cy Young Award winner who has been on quite the journey since being traded to the Cubs just three seasons ago where he's evolved into one of the game's best pitchers.

It's hard to believe the last few seasons Arrieta has had considering he was demoted to the Minor Leagues by the Baltimore Orioles back in 2013 after compiling an ERA of 6.63 in four starts which eventually led to the O's parting ways with their struggling starter. It's safe to say Arrieta has turned it around since then as he's now recorded 24 consecutive quality starts, riding an ERA of 0.86 in those 24 games. To put Arrieta's recent dominance into perspective, he's given up only seven earned runs over his last 119 1/3 innings pitched. And interestingly enough, both of Arrieta's no-no's have come on the road, falling one shy of the all-time mark set by Nolan Ryan who tossed three of his seven career no-hitters while a member of the visiting team. Though he did allow four walks in the game and struckout six, Arrieta also out-hit the Reds by collecting a pair of singles on his way to becoming only the third Cub to record a pair of no-no's, joining Ken Holtzman and Larry Corcoran. At the ripe age of 39 years old, it would be the first no-hitter caught by Cubs catcher David Ross who had announced during spring training that the 2016 season would be his last. It would also be the first time Cincinnati would be held hit-less in 45 years.

Not since Philadelphia's Rick Wise no-hit Cincy on June 23, 1971 had the Reds been held without a hit, ending a span of 7,109 games for the longest active streak during the regular season. In his age 30 season, Arrieta who improved to 4-0 on the year with the win and is only the fourth reigning Cy Young winner to toss a no-hitter the following year, has appeared to have learned from those struggles early in his career while a member of the Orioles and has benefited from a change of scenery to quickly help him rise atop the list as one of baseball's best pitchers and on the cusp of reaching elite status if he hasn't already. Favored by many to make it to and win the World Series this year, Chicago is off to a 12-4 start to the season and is out to an early lead in the NL Central division standings. After falling short to the New York Mets in the NLCS a year ago, Joe Maddon's ball club appears poised and hungry for another run at a National League pennant with none other than Arrieta leading the way.


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Dodgers take a Double Scoop of No

For the second time in nine days, the Los Angeles Dodgers have been no-hit. After having a no-hitter thrown against them in a 3-0 loss to the Houston Astros on August 21, Dodgers manager Don Mattingly watched from the dugout on Sunday as his club logged the shortest span for a team being no-hit in 92 years when the Cubs repeated the feat. 

The first pitcher to victimize the first-place Dodgers was Mike Fiers who was dealt by the Milwaukee Brewers at the non-waiver trade deadline and acquired by the Houston Astros. Having entered the game seeking his first career complete game, in his third start with his new club, the 30-year old Fiers would achieve so much more by the end of the night. Needing 134-pitches, Fiers got his first complete game and then some, striking out 10 batters and walking 3 while becoming the first pitcher to throw a no-no after being traded that season since Jim Bibby in 1973. It would be the Astros' first no-hitter since a combined no-no in 2003 against the Yankees in New York and first individual no-hitter since the late Darryl Kile stymied the Mets in the old Astrodome in 1993. The masterful outing which earned Fiers AL Player of the Week honors, was the 11th no-hitter in franchise history and first in the 16-year history of Houston's Minute Maid Park.

In what's been a remarkable season for the Astros who virtually opened the season in first place in the AL West and haven't looked back, Fiers' performance added to the excitement as Houston tries to hang onto its playoff spot with baseball entering its last full calendar month of the regular season. 

On Sunday, however, the Dodgers fell victim to a whole different animal in Cubs righty Jake Arrieta. Unlike Fiers who's had an up and down season spent between two clubs, Arrieta has been one of the best pitchers in all of baseball since the All-Star break having logged 14 consecutive quality starts. And in Tinsletown, Arrieta took to the mound and delivered a performance fit for the Oscars. Having dominated the entire month of August, Arrieta showcased his best stuff yet on Sunday, striking out 12 Dodger hitters while allowing only two base runners all evening in the 2-0 victory. A walk and an error by Cubbies shortstop Starlin Castro would be the only blemish on an otherwise perfect night for the Chicago right-hander. For what it's worth, Arrieta, who boasts an ERA of 2.11 on the season, has held the opposition hit-less thru the first five innings in seven of his 18 starts in 2015. But on Sunday, he would go the distance by twirling the sixth no-hitter of the 2015 season and becoming the first Cubs pitcher to toss a no-hitter since Carlos Zambrano who made history by blanking the Astros in a game played at Milwaukee's Miller Park on September 14, 2008.

Heading into the ninth inning needing only three outs, Arrieta went out in style by striking out the side to put the finishing touches on his historic night as he improved to a perfect record of 6-0 in the month of August, while tallying his Major League-leading 17th win of the season which seems like a far cry from the forgetful seasons Arrieta spent with the Baltimore Orioles. And for the first time since 2008 the Chicago Cubs (74-55) are on the cusp of a playoff berth, currently holding the second NL Wild Card spot with a 5.5-game cushion on top of the defending-champion San Francisco Giants. A lot of that has to do with the impressive second half to the season Arrieta has been able to put together. If he can keep it up, don't be surprised if his name's in the final running for the NL Cy Young Award. 


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Hamels hammers Cubs, Twirls No-Hitter

Prior to Saturday, you'd have to go back some 7,920 games to witness the last no-hitter tossed at Chicago's historic Wrigley Field when Cubs pitcher Milt Pappas twirled one on September 2, 1972. With the Philadelphia Phillies in town, sporting the worst record in all of baseball, the Fightin's threw their best pitcher on the mound in lefty ace Cole Hamels. Granted Hamels was seeking his first win since May 23 and the Cubbies had gone a span of 49 years without being no-hit, the odds of the Philadelphia southpaw delivering a no-no were incredibly stacked against him, as if they aren't to begin with for any pitcher on any given day. And with a nine-game win-less streak under his belt entering Saturday's game, the 3-time All-Star and former World Series MVP made sure that mark would fall short of reaching double-digits.

With trade rumors all we've heard of regarding the Phillies ace over the past few months and even dating back to last season's trade deadline, Hamels' name was finally mentioned in a positive light as he made history by tossing the 13th no-hitter in franchise history and first since a combined no-hitter last season, which coincidentally, Hamels started. But instead of throwing six hit-less innings like he did in last season's combined no-no before handing it off to relievers Jake Diekman, Ken Giles and Jonathan Papelbon to finish it off, Hamels was a one-man-show on Saturday. Hamels finished with 13 strikeouts on the afternoon and saw his only blemish come in the form of a pair of walks allowed in Philadelphia's 5-0 win. Though Hamels' gem was the third no-hitter thrown this season behind the Giants' Chris Heston and Washington's Max Scherzer, it's without a doubt the most impressive out of the bunch. For what it's worth, Hamels even out-hit the opposition on Saturday when he laced an 8th inning double, becoming just the fifth pitcher in Major League history with both a solo no-hitter and combined no-no on his resume.

Two individuals who are no stranger to witnessing the no-hitter is Cubs skipper Joe Maddon who has now been on the receiving end of five no-hitters while watching one of his own pitchers throw one, and Phillies catcher Carlos Ruiz who has caught a few. For Ruiz, Saturday's feat was his fourth no-hitter while behind the plate (all with the Phillies) which sets a new National League record and ties Boston's Jason Varitek for the most no-hitters caught in Major League history. Before Hamels took to the mound on Saturday, the you'd have to turn the calendar all the way back to August 19, 1965 when the Cubbies were last held hit-less, a 49 year drought which is the longest in MLB history for any ball club. And with the MLB trade deadline looming and multiple teams looking to make a move to bolster their pitching staff, the question of whether or not we've seen Hamels' last outing in a Phillies uniform comes into play. If he is dealt, he would become just the third pitcher to ever be traded in the same season in which he notched a no-hitter, and what a farewell it would be to the city of Brotherly Love. 

With the Rangers and Dodgers currently leading the pack in those looking to acquire Hamels' services, the Giants, Yankees and Cubs are also rumored to be in the Cole Hamels sweepstakes. Three years removed from signing what was the second-largest contract ever by a pitcher, $144 Million over six-years, a trade involving Hamels could be the start of a Philadelphia fire sale.


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Cubs Trade 12 days for 1 year with Top Prospect

With Major League Baseball's Opening Day just around the corner and Spring Training nearing its end, the Chicago Cubs have been all the rave up to this point. After what could very well end up being a historical off-season for the franchise which saw the signings of one of the top two free-agent pitchers on the market in Jon Lester and arguably the best skipper in the bigs in Joe Maddon, Kris Bryant who is not only Chicago's top prospect but is the number one prospect in the Majors, has been tearing the cover off of the ball this Spring. The 23-year old third baseman which has also seen some playing time in the outfield, leads the league in home runs this Spring and has Cubbie fans licking their chops looking into what should be a very bright future for an organization which hasn't won a World Series title in over a century. 

In just 14 games this Spring, Bryant, a Las Vegas native and graduate of Bonanza High School, has belted 9 home runs, while driving in 15 RBIs and logging a robust .425 batting average, the type of numbers that would usually result in a player being a lock to get the opening day nod at the hot corner. But not in this case. Monday, the Cubs made a decision that was sure to grind the gears of Bryant's agent Scott Boras and the MLB Players Association alike when Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein announced the team's plan to have Bryant start the season at the Minor League level. Though the news of the team's decision is fresh off the presses and was finally made official, sources around the ball club say Epstein and company had their minds made from the start which has caused the Cubs front-office to be the target of criticism from those on the outside looking in. But if we're talking solely from a business standpoint while keeping the future in mind, the front-office made the decision every single one of us would make if we were at the helm. 

By having Bryant start the year in the Minors, they can delay the start of his service clock and thus gain another full year of his services as he won't become eligible for free agency until after the 2021 season instead of 2020 had he made the opening day roster. To dumb it down some; if the Cubs can wait it out for the first nine games of the season (12 days), they'll have another year's worth of Bryant's services which considering his potential, is a no-brainer. Not to mention the championship drought that lingers on the north side of Chicago. If I'm a fan of the Cubs, I'm thrilled that the brain trust has their eyes focused on the bigger picture and that's the future of the franchise, opposed to the front-office giving him the green light to start the year only to watch him struggle out of the gates and send him back down to the Minors. Or worse, witness him become a free-agent and sign elsewhere a year earlier than he could have had we been patient for an additional two weeks. 

Bryant's red-hot hitting this spring is no fluke as the second overall pick of the 2013 MLB Draft also hit a league-leading 43 home runs in the Minors last year which should bring smiles to the faces of fans sitting in the bleachers at the friendly confines of Wrigley Field. With such bright young talent as Starlin Castro, Anthony Rizzo and Jorge Soler already on the big league roster and prospects Javier Baez and Addison Russell in the Minors and next in line to be the core of the franchise, the Cubs should be a fun team to watch and a contending powerhouse in the NL Central for many years to come.


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Tough start for Defending Champion Giants

Before their title defense could even begin with the start of Major League Baseball's regular season still a month away, the defending World Series champion San Francisco Giants were dealt a sizable blow in just their third Spring Training outing of the year. Facing Corey Black of the Chicago Cubs, Giants outfielder and clubhouse ringleader Hunter Pence took a pitch high and in off of his left forearm in the sixth inning that caused him to exit the game. With everyone in the dugout from manager Bruce Bochy on down fearing for the worst, x-rays revealed a non-displaced fracture in the ulna bone which will keep Pence on the shelf for 6-8 weeks. 

Although the timing of the incident is somewhat fortunate given the injury occurred prior to the regular season, Pence will be without the benefit of working on his timing at the plate and everything else that Spring Training allows you to prep for. And while Pence expressed no ill will towards Black and even replied to his tweet which Black issued to wish the Giants outfielder a speedy recovery to which Pence replied, "It happens my friend. Thanks for the concern, it's part of the game we love." With the timetable for Pence's return out of his favor given he currently owns the longest active streak in baseball having played 383 consecutive games which will now be in jeopardy, life without their iron man won't be long for the Giants but it'll still take some getting used to, granted Pence has appeared in every single game since San Francisco acquired him midway through the 2012 season.

Since his arrival to the ball club, Pence leads the team in home runs, runs batted in and extra-base hits. But he's meant more to the team than just a statistical leader and everyday gamer, he's been the voice and soul of the ball club during two of their three title runs. The injury to Pence opens the door to a number of outfielders looking to get some playing time including Gregor Blanco, Juan Perez and non-roster invitee Justin Maxwell. The resilient Hunter Pence has plans of returning sooner than team doctors have ruled him out for but waiting out the full 6-8 weeks might be best as the Giants look to win their fourth World Series title in 6 years and put an end to the curse (if you wanna call it that) of the even numbered years.


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Valentines Day in Beantown

In November of 2002 at the young age of 28, Theo Epstein took on the daunting task of becoming the general manager of a Boston Red Sox organization that hadn't won a World Series title since 1918, a drought that became notoriously known as the "Curse of the Bambino." However, two years later Epstein would form a Red Sox team that was finally able to turn the tide and put an end to the black cloud that hovered over Fenway Park for 86 years as Boston soon became a fixture in the Postseason, winning two World Series Championships in four years. With lofty expectations heading into the 2011 season after acquiring not one, but two of the most highly coveted names on the market in Carl Crawford and Adrian Gonzalez, many believed Epstein had assembled one of the best lineups Major League Baseball had ever seen. Instead, a monumental collapse in September would prove otherwise as Epstein's brainchild lost a nine game lead in the wild card race, missing out on the postseason on the final day of the regular season. Boston's debacle would later result in a number of changes in the Red Sox front-office including the dismissal of former manager Terry Francona as well as the departure of Epstein who now has an even bigger task at hand and will be in charge of ending an even longer World Series drought of 103 years, this time for the Chicago Cubs.

Following the collapse, the Red Sox appointed Ben Cherington as Epstein's successor who's first task was to hire a new skipper to fill the shoes of Terry Francona. After searching high and low with a list that had over 50 possible candidates, Cherington and co. thought they found their man in Brewers hitting coach Dale Sveum until he was snagged days later by the Cubs which led them to Plan B. Hired to become the 45th manager in franchise history as well as put an end to the video game playing and fried chicken eating in the Red Sox clubhouse will be Bobby Valentine who's nine years removed from his last stint in a Major League dugout.

Making his third pit stop along his big league journey, Valentine, a New England native who grew up in Connecticut has compiled a 15-year career managing such team's as the Texas Rangers (1985-1992) and the New York Mets (1996-2002) before serving the last of his two stints in Japan with the Chiba Lotte Marines (1995, 2003-2009). Though Valentine has tasted success overseas, leading his team to a world title in '05 to win the Japan Series, the 61 year old skipper has experienced limited success at the Major League level with his only major accomplishment being a National League pennant in 2000 and a trip to the World Series in which his Mets lost to the cross-town rival New York Yankees in five games. All of that could change, however, as Valentine gets set to takeover a ball club with a plethora of talent and potential.

Prior to the announcement of Valentine being selected to manage the Red Sox in 2012, many had the skipper being somewhat of a dark horse and an underdog to land the job, but it was his passion for the game and will to win that turned Cherington and Boston's front-office into believers, offering him a two year deal with options for a third and fourth year. Historically, teams managed by Bobby V have been known to show immediate improvement in the standings following the season in which he took over so if history repeats itself the Red Sox should be playoff bound at least if not be the team everyone projected to win it all last year. You may have seen or heard Valentine's most recent work on ESPN where he served as an analyst the last two season's. Trading in his suit and tie for a jersey, Bobby V gets set to take on a job he's described as a dream come true. "I'm honored, I'm humbled and I'm pretty damn excited," Valentine said during his news conference in front of a large crowd of cameras and reporters at Boston's Fenway Park.


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Throwback Thursday x Sweet Lou

With baseball's Opening Day set to kick off the 2011 MLB season, one face that won't be in the dugout for the first time in over 20 years, is Lou Piniella. Better known for his infamous on-the-field tirades that included lots of dirt kicking, base throwing and hat tossing, Piniella was one of the more colorful personalities in all of baseball who I'm sure added a little profanity every now and then. Having spent time at the helm of five different Major League ball clubs, Lou made his stamp on the game winning over 1,800 games and a World Series title with the Big Red Machine in 1990. In his third and final year with the Chicago Cubs last season, the 3-time Manager of the Year decided it was finally time to hang up what will undoubtedly be a Hall of Fame career.

Prior to the 2007 season, Piniella was called upon to help the Cubbies overcome and snap their dreaded 98 year World Series-less drought. However, despite their National League leading 97 wins in 2008, the Piniella led Cubs were unable to win a single Postseason game, as the windy city dry spell has now reached a record 102 years and counting. On the positive side of his '08 campaign, Piniella became only the second manager in Major League history to win 90+ games in a season with four different teams, joining Hall of Famer Dick Williams. Similar to his Postseason misfortunes with the Cubs, Piniella coached the 2001 Seattle Mariners squad that went on to win a record-tying 116 regular season games before getting swept in the ALDS by the eventual American League champion New York Yankees.

What many people forget is that Piniella also paid his dues as a player, where he jump started his impressive resume by earning AL Rookie of the Year honors in 1969 with the Kansas City Royals. A lone All-Star appearance in 1972 and two World Series triumphs while a member of the Yankees highlighted his illustrious career. One of the more celebrated players turned skippers of our time, Piniella was embraced by the fans just as much he was by the players, if not more. And although he announced his retirement and has no intentions on returning to coach, sweet Lou isn't a complete stranger to the game of baseball, and is now working in the San Francisco Giants front office serving as a special consultant.

Though he certainly won't be forgotten, I think I speak for everyone associated with baseball when I say we'll never see another character quite like Piniella. Thanks for the memories Lou!

Cubs Fortify Rotation With Garza

Hoping to maintain a strong pitching rotation similar to that of their NL Central counterparts, the Chicago Cubs made headlines as the most recent team to strengthen their pitching staff. After signing former Tampa Bay Ray Carlos Pena to fill the void of Derrek Lee who starred many years at first base for the Cubs, Chicago and Tampa Bay agreed on an eight player trade that will send pitcher Matt Garza to the Windy City, thus reuniting the two former teammates. Helping Tampa Bay outlast the division rival New York Yankees and finish atop the AL East for the second time in three years, Garza finished the 2010 season at 15-10 with an ERA of 3.91.

Adding yet another disappointing season to their dreadful World Series drought that reached 102 years after their unsuccessful 2010 campaign, the Cubs finishing the year with an overall record of 75-87 placing them second to last in the division, only ahead of the Pittsburgh Pirates (57-105). With much of their struggles coming within the starting rotation, the addition of Garza addresses their needs of a starting pitcher that can hold his own. Having pitched his entire career in the American League and three of his five years in the powerhouse AL East, chances are Garza will see his ERA drop, entering the DH-less National League. However, pitching in the friendly confines of Wrigley Field is not always a beneficial adjustment given it's a hitters park.

Like many teams, Chicago took the trade approach, rather than taking the free agency route that has been somewhat unattractive this offseason in terms of pitchers available. While Garza departs a crowded Tampa Bay rotation that includes lots of young talent led by All-Star David Price, he joins a Cubs pitching corps that will most likely feature Carlos Zambrano, Ryan Dempster, Carlos Silva, and Tom Gorzelanny. The proud owner of an ALCS MVP Award in '08, Garza hurled one of six no-hitters thrown this past season, and became the first player in Rays franchise history to accomplish the feat. Though he serves as a major upgrade over the less experienced Randy Wells (8-14), it'll be hard to envision the Cubbies as contenders considering the pieces the Reds and Cardinals have, and those the Brewers have recently acquired.

Having lost a number of key players to free agency this offseason, it'll be interesting to see how the season pans out as Tampa Bay now parts with yet another key contributor to their recent success.

The Downfall of Milton Bradley

One athlete who is no stranger to controversy and both on the field and off the field antics, is Milton Bradley. The 11-year veteran has played for eight different teams, and his behavior could easily be one of the main reasons why. But his most recent run in with the media, could be his most questionable. In an interview with ESPN, Bradley claims he received lots of hate mail from Cubs fans while playing with the organization, and said it was almost all racial related. The troubled 2008 AL All-Star also said, "Unless you're a black Superman in Chicago like Ernie Banks and Andre Dawson were, they'll [the fans] get on you." Milton went on to say that he felt like he was trapped inside his home as if he was kept hostage, afraid to go anywhere.

I hear where he's coming from, but I hope he's not trying to use the race card as an excuse to why he didn't perform as well, which is what it's starting to sound like. Besides, high expectations come from the Wrigley faithful when you sign a 3-year deal worth $30 million dollars. Not to mention, former Cub teammate Derrek Lee seems to be doing just fine in a Cubs uniform and has been a fan favorite since joining the team in 2004, despite being African-American. In his one and only season with the Cubs, Bradley finished the year batting .257 with 12 hr's and 40 rbi's. His mediocre 2009 performance led to a trade to Seattle in exchange for starting pitcher Carlos Silva. Only one of many moves the Mariners have made this offseason, hoping to return to the post season for the first time since 2001.

Take some of Bradley's other on the field antics into consideration. During his brief stint with the San Diego Padres in 2007, Milton had an altercation with first base umpire Mike Winters. Padres manager Bud Black tried restraining him while the two got in each others face. While being held back by his skipper, Bradley fell to the ground tearing his ACL in the process, resulting in him missing the final week of the 2007 regular season. But his most memorable incident with the Cubs, came in an inter-league match-up against the visiting Minnesota Twins. With two men on base, Bradley caught a routine fly ball in left field, then threw it into the stands, unaware of how many outs there were. With only 2 outs instead of the 3 Milton had suggested, the umpire allowed both base runners to advance two bases.

Although his idiotic souvenir toss into the stands didn't lead to a suspension, what he said in an interview on September 20th did. While talking to the media, Bradley was quoted as saying there is "negativity" with the organization and the city environment and "you understand why they [Cubs] haven't won in 100 years here." He then said he was uncomfortable with his presence with the Chicago Cubs. General Manager Jim Hendry felt Bradley's remarks were disrespectful and announced he would be suspended for the remainder of the season. If you ask me, I say those comments alone could have easily led to the Cub fans expressing their hatred towards the left fielder.

What have we learned today? We've learned that Milton Bradley is a bigger cancer to the team than he is a contributor. Now that he's in a Mariners uniform, it'll be interesting to see whether he can stay put with one organization more than a few years, or if his demeanor will get the better half of him. Personally, I think he's a ticking time bomb and it's just a matter of time before he goes off and has another one of his little hissy fits. I'm just thankful he's not on my team.