Posted at 9:26 a.m., Friday, June 29, 2007
MLB: Padres get Milton Bradley from A's
By Bernie Wilson
Associated Press
The Padres sent Oakland minor league pitcher Andrew Brown. The Athletics are giving San Diego cash to cover part of what Bradley is owed.
To clear room for Bradley, San Diego designated left-handed pitcher Sean Thompson for assignment.
Earlier yesterday, right fielder Brian Giles came off a five-week stay on the disabled list in time for the series opener today at Dodger Stadium. The two-time defending NL West champion Padres have the slimmest lead possible in a tight race in the division, one percentage point ahead of Los Angeles and one-half game ahead of Arizona.
If healthy, Bradley could be an upgrade over the tandem of Terrmel Sledge and Russell Branyan in left.
Oakland designated Bradley for assignment a week earlier, cutting ties with a player who was expected to play an important role on the team this season.
The day before the A's designated Bradley for assignment, the Padres obtained embattled catcher Michael Barrett from the Chicago Cubs.
Barrett and Carlos Zambrano got into a skirmish in the dugout June 1 and it carried over into the clubhouse where Barrett got a black eye and needed stitches in his lip.
Less than two weeks later, Barrett and pitcher Rich Hill had a verbal exchange in the dugout during a game against the Seattle Mariners.
An emotional player, Barrett was the central figure in a brawl with the White Sox last season. He set it off by punching A.J. Pierzynski in the jaw after he'd been run over at the plate. Barrett was suspended for 10 games.
