Bradley is finally starting to look like the player we saw last year as spring training winds down. Bradley has been in the major leagues since 2000 and has compiled a career batting average of .280 while driving in nearly 400 runs. The Cubs will be the seventh team Bradley has spent time with in the majors. He has also played for the Expos, Indians, Dodgers, Athletics, Padres, and Rangers. While his numbers don’t seem all that impressive for a guy who’s been in the league for almost ten years, you have to look at what he’s done recently to see what kind of player we really have. Injuries have greatly reduced Bradley’s playing time in the past. He’s only played over 100 games in a season three times in his career.

The market for Bradley this offseason was much smaller than expected for a guy of his level of talent. Many believe Bradley is locker room poison and can wreck a clubhouse. In 2007, while playing for the San Diego Padres, Bradley tore his ACL during an altercation with first base umpire Mike Winters. Winters had alleged that Bradley had thrown his bat at another player earlier in the game and was questioned by Bradley about it after reaching first base in his next at-bat. Winters used profanity towards Bradley, who then had to be restrained by his first base coach from going after Winters. While immobilized, Bradley fell, tore his ACL, ending his season. The Cubs’ front office took these issues seriously and questioned many former teammates who said Bradley was a great teammate.

Bradley is coming off the best season of his career, in which he hit .321 in 115 games and drove in 75 runs. Bradley is currently riding a 10-game hitting streak after going 4-for-4 at the plate on Monday.