Latest stunt irritates brass; Indians look to deal Bradley

The controversial outfielder was expected to bat clean-up.
WINTER HAVEN, Fla. (AP) -- Milton Bradley might soon be someone else's center fielder -- and problem. The Cleveland Indians have apparently had enough of his antics.
The club is trying to trade Bradley, who was barred from Cleveland's training camp Thursday, one day after he was pulled from an exhibition game by manager Eric Wedge for not running out a pop fly.
Indians general manager Mark Shapiro has discussed a trade involving Bradley with as many as eight teams, and "four or five are legitimate and serious."
Bradley was expected to bat clean-up for the Indians this season. But the 25-year-old outfielder, who has a troubled history on and off the field, will play elsewhere once the Indians can strike a deal.
"It's unfortunate where we are right now, but we have to do what's best for the ball club," Wedge said.
Although the season opener is Monday, Shapiro said there is no timetable to make a trade. The Indians are at a disadvantage because teams know they want to make a deal, but having so many involved actually helps Cleveland, he said.
With Bradley's expected trade, both Coco Crisp and Alex Escobar will probably make the Indians' 25-man opening day roster.
Wedge had planned to keep just one extra outfielder, and the speedy Crisp appeared to be on his way to Triple-A Buffalo to start the season.
"I have no idea what's going to happen now," said Crisp, who hit a two-run homer and crashed into the center-field wall while catching the game's final out in a 13-11 win over the Detroit Tigers on Thursday. "I think we both deserve to make the team."
How it happened
On Wednesday, Bradley was removed from a game against Houston for not running hard on a second-inning popup that dropped for a single.
Bradley was taken out in the third, showered and dressed quickly and took a 45-minute cab ride from Kissimmee to his rented spring training home.
He came to Chain of Lakes Park on Thursday to retrieve his SUV and drove out of the Indians' training complex at 9:30 a.m.
Asked if Bradley was told not to report, Wedge said, "Yeah."
Shapiro added that the decision to keep Bradley away from his teammates was made collectively by the organization. Bradley did not ask to be traded, Shapiro added.
Bradley's agent, Seth Levinson, said both sides had agreed to the separation to weigh their options.
"He left camp with the understanding and the agreement of the front office," Levinson said.
Shapiro would not characterize the most recent exchange between Bradley and Wedge. However, the GM said the club expects its players to display "passion, professionalism and respect."
"There is a line that they can't cross," Shapiro said. "You have to make sure that line is meaningful."
However, until his misstep for not hustling, Bradley had seemingly turned the corner on his troubled past.
He spent the winter in Cleveland working out and arrived in camp in great shape, promising to have a better attitude.