Chicago Cubs manager Lou Piniella said Tuesday he's looking forward to adding a "big bat" to the lineup next season, which could mean that disgruntled outfielder Milton Bradley has played his last game for the Cubs.
"Our general manager Jim Hendry had to do a tough task of sending him home [on Sept. 20], and I'm sure it wasn't very pleasant for him," Piniella said on the "Waddle & Silvy" show on ESPN 1000. "The big thing with Milton this year was the fact he drove in 40 runs.
"We needed a big bat to put in the middle part of our lineup, and we thought Milton would be the one. And it just didn't work out, for whatever reason. So we move forward from there and now we try to find somebody else. And I know Jim will work very hard at it."
Bradley has two years and just over $21 million left on his contract. Not only did he not produce on the field, but he said he didn't enjoy his first year with the Cubs, and he said he faced hatred on a daily basis. Hendry said he didn't want the fan base being criticized when he sent Bradley home.
Piniella also said the Cubs' clubhouse chemistry wasn't very good this season, but he said the Cubs aren't very far away from being a contender. And he reiterated that he'll return to finish his contract next year.