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They got game Indians acquire speedster Bradley from Expos
Updated: Tuesday July 31, 2001 5:31 PM
CLEVELAND (AP) -- Needing an offensive spark for the playoff drive and perhaps a future center fielder, the Cleveland Indians acquired Milton Bradley from Montreal for minor league pitcher Zach Day on Tuesday. The Indians, who have had their eye on Bradley as a possible replacement for Kenny Lofton for months, completed the deal about two hours before the 4 p.m. EDT trading deadline. "In Milton Bradley we are getting a top-of-the-order, middle of the diamond player we feel will have a major impact at the major league level in the near future," Indians general manager John Hart said. "He's a multi-tooled player who can run the ball down in center field." The arrival of the 23-year-old Bradley appears to indicate that Lofton's days with the Indians are numbered. Or Cleveland could just be trying to motivate Lofton, who has had a subpar season. "I think Kenny might be able to see it like that," Indians manager Charlie Manuel said before his club opened a crucial seven-game homestand. "The biggest thing for Kenny to do, though, is to play like we know he can." Bradley, who has been optioned to Class AAA Buffalo for the time being, can bat leadoff and steal bases, something that the 34-year-old Lofton no longer tries. Bradley has spent the season shuffling between the Expos and Class AAA Ottawa. In 67 games for Montreal, he batted .223 with 16 doubles, one homer and 19 RBIs. He also stole seven bases before being sent down on June 23. With the Lynx, Bradley batted .272 with two homers and 13 RBIs while stealing 14 bases and getting caught just once. Manuel said he knows very little about Bradley and admitted being a bit concerned that he couldn't stay with the Expos. Bradley also has a reputation for being an aggressive player with some attitude. In 1999, he batted .329 at Class AA Harrisburg but was also suspended for seven games that season for triggering a benches-clearing brawl after being hit by a pitch. He finished that year in style, however, by hitting a two-out grand slam in the bottom of the ninth as Harrisburg beat Norwich 12-11 in the deciding Game 5 of the Eastern League final. Day, 23, was acquired from the Yankees along with right-hander Jake Westbrook on July 25 last season to complete the deal that sent David Justice to New York for Ricky Ledee. The right-hander went 9-10 with a 3.10 ERA this season at Class AA Akron, and was 1-0 with a 1.50 ERA in one start for Buffalo. The Indians are loaded with several young pitchers like Day, who became expendable as the club searched for the missing piece while trying to hold off the Minnesota Twins. "I like Day," Manuel said. "He's got a style like Charlie Nagy's only bigger and stronger." Lofton is in his final season under contract with the Indians, who exercised their $8 million option on the six-time All-Star during the offseason. After a decent start, Lofton has struggled offensively and in the field this year. Once an ignitor with his speed and a .306 career batting average, Lofton was dropped to the bottom of the batting order by Manuel earlier this season. But nothing has helped and Lofton entered Tuesday night's game batting just .240 with seven homers, 36 RBIs and 10 stolen bases. Lofton led the AL in steals from 1992-97 and is the club's career leader in that category.
Hart, in his final season as the Indians' GM, recently doubted if the Indians would do anything before the deadline. But this deal marks the seventh straight year that Hart has made at least one trade before July 31.
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