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The Honolulu Advertiser

Posted at 7:33 a.m., Sunday, December 9, 2007

Baseball: Bradley, Rangers reach $5M, 1-year deal

By Ronald Blum
Associated Press Baseball Writer

NEW YORK -- Outfielder Milton Bradley and the Texas Rangers reached a preliminary agreement today on a $5 million, one-year contract.

Bradley, who also had considered re-signing with the San Diego Padres, could play outfield or be a designated hitter with the Rangers. His deal also contains performance bonuses.

Bradley was the second-half offensive catalyst for the Padres, who fell one win short of going to their third straight trip to the playoffs. But he tore the anterior cruciate ligament and damaged cartilage in his right knee when Padres manager Bud Black spun him to the ground while trying to keep him from going after umpire Mike Winters during a confrontation on Sept. 23.

San Diego and Bradley, who has a history of losing his temper, claimed Winters baited the player into the confrontation and directed a profanity at him. Winters was suspended for the final five days of the regular season and didn't work the postseason.

Bradley's injury was the climax of a bizarre sequence of events.

A few innings before he was injured, Bradley inadvertently stepped on Mike Cameron's right hand as the two chased Garrett Atkins' inside-the-park home run. Cameron injured his thumb and made just one appearance the rest of the season.

Bradley finished the year hitting .306 with 13 homers and 37 RBIs in 61 games with Oakland and San Diego.

His decision to sign with the Rangers was first reported by foxsports.com.