Athletics Get Two Big Leaguers For Ethier

By Kevin Goldstein
December 14, 2005

After contending for a playoff spot thanks in part to the contributions for a number of rookies, the A’s seem to be gunning for another playoff run in 2006. After signing starter Esteban Loiza as a free agent, the A’s continued to add players Tuesday, trading outfield prospect Andre Ethier for a pair of major leaguers--talented but troubled outfielder Milton Bradley and infielder Antonio Perez.

Bradley, 28, has unquestioned talent but comes with his share of baggage. He’s a switch-hitter who gives the A’s a much-needed presence against lefthanders, offering plus power, good plate discipline and decent speed. A career .269/.350/.426 hitter, Bradley was a second-round pick by the Expos in 1996 out of Long Beach’s Poly High, Bradley reached the majors by 2000 and was traded to the Indians the following year for Zach Day. His career in Cleveland was plagued by injuries and off-the-field issues and he was dealt to Los Angeles just prior to Opening Day 2004 for Franklin Gutierrez and Andrew Brown.

He hit .267/.362/.424 in 141 games in 2004 to help the Dodgers win the National League West despite missing time with a pair of suspensions. In 2005, Bradley was limited to just 75 games due to finger and knee injuries, and wore out his welcome with the Dodgers after accusing star second baseman Jeff Kent of a lack of leadership and a inability to deal with African-American players. Bradley is expected to split time between center and right field for the A’s, with Nick Swisher moving to first base. Bradley, who earned $2.5 million last year, is arbitration eligible.

Perez, 25, is a versatile infielder who hit a career-best .297/.360/.398 in 259 at-bats for the Dodgers while seeing time at second base, third base and shortstop. Originally signed by the Reds out of the Dominican Republic, Perez was sent to the Mariners in February 2000 as part of the Ken Griffey trade. Considered a top prospect early in his tenure with the Mariners, a wrist injury in 2001 and a disappointing 2002 season in the Double-A Texas League dimmed his star. The Devil Rays acquired him for Randy Winn in a 2002 trade, and he made his big league debut in 2003. He was sent to the Dodgers in the spring of 2004 for utilityman Jason Romano. Perez, who has spent the last two years splitting time between Triple-A Las Vegas and the Dodgers, is a career .280/.353/.383 hitter in 397 at-bats. He’s a good defender at all three infield positions and a solid hitter for average, though he’s yet to replicated the power he’s shown in the minors. Perez will compete for the every day second-base job in Oakland, and at the least should get 2-300 at-bats as the team’s primary utilityman.

In Ethier, the Dodgers acquired one of the top hitting prospects in the Oakland system. A 2003 second-round pick out of Arizona State, Ethier is a career .312/.382/.455 hitter in 284 minor league games and had a breakout campaign in 2005, batting .318/.385/.497 in 131 games for Double-A Midland, earning Texas League player of the year honors. He had a solid season in the Arizona Fall League where he also earned the Dernell Stenson Award for sportsmanship. Ethier is a gifted hitter, but average speed and a below-average arm limit him to left field. With just average power at best, scouts are mixed as the Ethier having enough offense firepower to profile as an everyday corner outfielder in the big leagues. He’s expected to begin the year at Triple-A Las Vegas.