Mariners designate Milton Bradley for assignment

By Brady Henderson

The Mariners designated Milton Bradley for assignment Monday, ending the outfielder’s tumultuous and disappointing tenure in Seattle.

The team now has 10 days to either trade, release or outright Bradley’s contract.

“We just felt that Milton was not part of our future and is not part of our present,” general manager Jack Zduriencik said in a conference call Monday.

In a corresponding roster move, the Mariners recalled OF Carlos Peguero from Triple-A Tacoma. Peguero, 24, hit .182 (2 for 11) in five games with the Mariners earlier this season when Justin Smoak was on bereavement. Earlier Monday, the Mariners designated OF Ryan Langerhans for assignment and selected OF Mike Wilson from Triple-A Tacoma.

Milton Bradley

In a little over one season with the Mariners, Bradley hit just .209 and did little to distance himself from his reputation as a malcontent.

After removing himself from a game in May of 2010, Bradley spent two weeks away from the team in order to deal with what he called personal problems. He was arrested in January after his wife told police he threatened her. The Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office later declined to file charges. Last week, Bradley was thrown out of two games, and one of those ejections included a fine and a one-game suspension for making contact with an umpire.

Bradley, 33, was hitting .218 with two home runs and 13 RBI. He was 5 for his last 16 after closing out April with an 0-for-20 slump.

His recent mishaps in the field didn’t help matters either. He was booed at Safeco Field on Saturday after he was unable to reach several balls hit to left field.

Zduriencik said the decision was a mutual one between he and manager Eric Wedge, and that there was not a specific incident that ultimately led to it.

“I think it was just an issue where, as we evaluated where we are, we evaluated where we are going and the parts that we thought were going to be part of it, in our estimation he did not fit,” Zduriencik said. “So therefore, that’s why the decision was made.”

Bradley is making $12 million in the final year of a three-year, $30 million contract. When asked if there was any hesitation on the part of either CEO Howard Lincoln and team president Chuck Armstrong due to Bradley’s hefty salary, Zduriencik said “both were very supportive” of the move.

Seattle acquired Bradley from the Cubs before the 2010 season for pitcher Carlos Silva and $9 million. He hit .205 with eight home runs and 29 RBI in an injury-shortened 2010 season. Silva, meanwhile, was released by the Cubs in March and later signed to a minor league contract by the Yankees.

“At this point in time, it (hasn’t) worked out for either club the way that I think either one of us were hoping,” Zduriencik said.