SEATTLE — Mercurial outfielder Milton Bradley was traded to the Seattle Mariners from the Chicago Cubs yesterday for expensive and underperforming pitcher Carlos Silva.

The dual dumping, which came together in 48 hours, got rid of headaches for each team — yet has the potential of creating new ones in each city.

Chicago also received $9 million from the Mariners as part of the swap. Silva has $25 million remaining on his contract and Bradley has $22 million left on his deal.

Chicago has been wanting to trade Bradley since the Cubs suspended him for the final two weeks of last season, shortly after he criticized the atmosphere surrounding a team that hasn't won a World Series since 1908.

"I'm ready to move forward and not make any statements about Chicago. I'm a Seattle Mariner," Bradley said. "I'm trying to put everything in the past and I'm not interested in rehashing old news."

Seattle, which has never even appeared in a World Series, didn't expect to find a suitor for Silva. He has done little except lose and get hurt in the two seasons since he signed a $48 million, four-year contract.

Silva won five games in two years with the Mariners.

PADRES

GOING BACK IN TIME

The San Diego Padres plan to break out their retro mustard-and-mud look for home Thursday afternoon games next season.

Team president Tom Garfinkel said a fan vote on padres.com will determine whether the players wear their 1978 whites, '78 browns or '84 whites during the six scheduled Thursday day games at Petco Park.

The '78 whites have brown sleeves and yellow trim on white jerseys, with white pants. The '78 browns have brown jerseys and white pants. The '84 whites are similar to the '78 whites but have a bit of orange and different lettering.

ELSEWHERE

Brewers: Reliever Claudio Vargas agreed yesterday to a one-year contract to stay with Milwaukee. The 31-year-old right-hander went a combined 1-0 with a 1.74 ERA in 36 relief appearances for the Los Angeles Dodgers and Milwaukee last season while holding opponents to a .177 batting average. He did not allow a run in his final 13 appearances.

Marlins: Right-hander Ricky Nolasco and Florida agreed to a $3.8 million, one-year contract, a raise of $1.4 million. Nolasco was 13-9 with a 5.06 ERA last season, down slightly from his 15-8 record in 2008. He missed a large part of 2007 because of elbow inflammation.

Orioles: Mike Gonzalez wants to close games, and Baltimore lacks an experienced arm to protect ninth-inning leads. Though they aren't handing the veteran left-hander with the herky jerky delivery the closer's job outright, the Orioles are likely to give him a chance after finalizing a $12 million, two-year contract yesterday.

Phillies: Jimmy Rollins' $8.5 million club option for 2011 was exercised yesterday by NL champion Philadelphia. A three-time All-Star, Rollins will make $7.5 million next year, the final season originally guaranteed under the $40 million, five-year extension he signed in June 2005.

Yankees: Nick Johnson is returning to New York, a move that likely will end Johnny Damon's time after four seasons. Johnson reached a preliminary agreement yesterday on a $5.5 million, one-year contract, a person familiar with the negotiations said, speaking on condition of anonymity because the agreement is not yet complete.