Bradley to Seattle and Silva to Cubs; Johnson to Yankees, leaving Damon hunting

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Bradley to Seattle and Silva to Cubs

NEW YORK — The Chicago Cubs and Mariners traded headaches Friday, with mercurial outfielder Milton Bradley heading to Seattle for underperforming pitcher Carlos Silva.

Cubs general manager Jim Hendry had been trying to deal Bradley since the team suspended him for the final two weeks of last season, shortly after he criticized the atmosphere surrounding a club that hasn’t won a World Series since 1908.

“I’m ready to move forward and not make any statements about Chicago. I’m a Seattle Mariner,” Bradley said. “I’m trying to put everything in the past and I’m not interested in rehashing old news.”

Bradley had signed a $30 million, three-year deal with the Cubs last offseason.

“I bear the responsibility for that not working out,” Hendry said. “Obviously, in this case, it did not work out how we planned, which was also the reason I sent Milton home. (That’s) not going to be tolerated, to treat our fans, teammates and members of the media the way he did.”

Silva was 5-18 with a 6.81 ERA in two seasons with Seattle after leaving Minnesota to sign a $48 million, four-year contract with Seattle. Chicago receives $9 million from the Mariners as part of the swap — Silva has $25 million remaining on his contract and Bradley has $22 million left on his deal.

Seattle, which already had added pitcher Cliff Lee and third baseman Chone Figgins, was seeking more run production.

“It’s a new day, new way for this guy,” Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik said. “What we know is that he is a good person, that he is a very intelligent guy, that he has a strong desire to win.”

With just a few days remaining before many teams go on holiday break, Nick Johnson reached a preliminary agreement on a $5.5 million, one-year contract with the Yankees. That move likely will end Johnny Damon’s time in New York after four seasons.

Baltimore finalized its $12 million, two-year contract with reliever Mike Gonzalez, who will get a chance to become its closer.

In a move that required little thought, Philadelphia exercised its $8.5 million option for 2011 on shortstop Jimmy Rollins, the 2007 NL MVP.

Infielder Jamey Carroll finalized a $3.85 million, two-year contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers and left-hander Javier Lopez, who had been with Boston, agreed to a $775,000, one-year contract with Pittsburgh. Milwaukee agreed to a one-year contract to keep right-hander Claudio Vargas, and Cincinnati agreed to a minor league contract with Laynce Nix, who last month became a free agent when he rejected the Reds’ attempt to send him to Triple-A.

Among players eligible for arbitration, right-hander Ricky Nolasco and the Florida Marlins agreed at $3.8 million.

Damon, who had a key double steal that helped New York beat the Phillies in the World Series, became a free agent after completing a $52 million, four-year contract.

While he was popular with teammates and fans, the Yankees were concerned about his age (36). The sides also were far apart on money. Damon at first was seeking a three-year deal worth at least $39 million, while New York was prepared to go no higher than $18 million to $20 million over two seasons.

His agent, Scott Boras, told the Yankees on Thursday that Damon was willing to accept two years.

“The Yankees made us an offer yesterday at 4 o’clock and we responded at 4:30 and they told us that Johnny just didn’t fit in their budget,” Boras said.

Johnson spent three years with the Yankees before he was traded to Montreal after the 2003 season in the Javier Vazquez deal. The 31-year-old figures to replace World Series MVP Hideki Matsui as New York’s designated hitter and becomes the second significant addition to the Yankees. During the winter meetings, New York obtained center fielder Curtis Granderson in a trade from Detroit.

Johnson hit a combined .291 for Washington and Florida last season with eight homers, 62 RBIs, 99 walks, a .426 on-base percentage and a .405 slugging percentage. He has made nine trips to the disabled list.

The 31-year-old Gonzalez went 5-4 with 10 saves and a 2.42 ERA with Atlanta last season. He hopes to become the Orioles’ closer.

“The thing that I’m excited about is the division we’re going to be playing in,” he said. “Obviously, everyone knows that this is the toughest division in baseball. To be able to face those lineups, I take it as a challenge.”

AP Sports Writers Gregg Bell in Seattle and Andrew Seligman in Chicago, and AP freelance writer Peter Kerzel in Baltimore contributed to this report.