News
Suspended Bradley issues apology
Players Association will not file grievance over situation
By Carrie Muskat / MLB.com
09/23/09 7:50 PM ET
MILWAUKEE -- Cubs outfielder Milton Bradley, suspended for the final two weeks of the season, issued an apology Wednesday, saying he regretted certain things he said and did, and wished he had handled them differently."I chose Chicago as a free agent," Bradley said in a statement, "because I wanted to be part of finally bringing a championship to Cubs fans. I expected to have a great season and I am deeply disappointed by my performance and the team's struggles. I played every game with everything that I had and wanted to desperately win.
"My frustration and disappointment boiled over and I said and did certain things that I regret," he said. "In hindsight, I wish that I had handled certain things differently and I apologize for those things that did not work out for the better.
"The air has been cleared," he said, "and we all want to move on and look forward to better days."
On Sunday, Cubs general manager Jim Hendry suspended Bradley for the final 15 games of the season. Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association were notified, and the union will not file a grievance on Bradley's behalf.
Hendry worked out a resolution with Bradley's agent, Seth Levinson, and had not talked to the outfielder since Sunday when the two met in the St. Louis hotel.
"I never anticipated any problems," Hendry said. "We'll finish out the season and figure out where we're going after that."
This season was the first of a three-year, $30 million deal Bradley signed with the Cubs in January. Will he return to the team in 2010?
"We'll worry about next season when this season is over," Hendry said.
Bradley, who batted .257 with 12 homers and 40 RBIs in 124 games, was sent home a day after he criticized the Cubs, saying it was not a positive environment and that "you understand why they haven't won in 100 years here." He also got into a shouting match with hitting coach Von Joshua on Saturday in St. Louis when asked to pinch-hit. The suspension was not because of those two incidents, but a series of events and comments made in Bradley's first year with the Cubs.
"I'm happy to see he issued the statement and apologized," Lou Piniella said. "We'll put that behind us and just go forward."
Carrie Muskat is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
