In a recent interview, ESPN Chicago’s Bruce Levine admitted that he may have “jumped the gun” when he said that a Milton Bradley trade would be announced in three or four days (a week or two ago).  But it does seem that the chatter is picking up concerning a Bradley trade, and the potential trade partners are being winnowed down.

Phil Rogers writes on ChicagoBreakingSports.com that a new three-way trade may be in the works.  According to Rogers, the trade would send Bradley to Texas, Kevin Millwood to the Mets, and Luis Castillo to the Cubs.  This is a variation on an earlier rumor that had Bradley going to Tampa Bay, Pat Burrell to the Mets, and Castillo to the Cubs.

Honestly, this new three-way trade rumor makes more sense than the rumor involving Tampa Bay and Burrell.  The Mets need pitching and Millwood can fill their void.  Plus, Burrell is a DH and the Mets don’t have a need for one.

I wrote about Luis Castillo previously.  He is not the perfect acquisition, but he could fill the Cubs need for a second baseman.  The Mets are almost as anxious to get rid of him as the Cubs are to move Bradley.  For the Cubs and Mets, the rumored three-way trade makes sense.  For Texas, not so much.  But the Rangers do have a bit of pitching depth, they need some additional offense, and they need some salary relief.  If they can get Bradley, have the Cubs and Mets pick up most of the $21 million still owed to him, and move the $12 million owed to Millwood in 2010, maybe the deal will make sense to them after all.

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The Cubs shook up their bullpen a bit when they traded Aaron Heilman to Arizona and then signed John Grabow to a two-year contract.

In exchange for Heilman, the Cubs received two minor leaguers; LHP Scott Maine and 1B (and Chicago native) Ryne White (Little Ryno).  Neither player is a “top prospect,” but Heilman did not figure into the Cubs 2010 plans, so they were lucky to get anything for him rather than simply non-tender him.

The Grabow contract is for a total of $7 million.  Although it seems a bit high to me, Grabow did have a good 2009 and can be a veteran presence in what is shaping up to be a very young bullpen.  Also, contrary to some reports, Grabow is more than just a LOOGY.  It wouldn’t surprise me if the Cubs use Grabow as their 8th inning set-up man.

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The Cubs want to trade Milton Bradley and Jim Hendry is doing his best to make it seem like they don’t have to get rid of him.  That makes sense.  It’s hard to deal from a position of strength when you are begging other teams to take a player off your hands.

With that in mind, it can’t be good for Hendry’s “leverage” that Joe Posnanski has named Milton Bradley as the NL’s Least Valuable Player.  Posnanski says:

“Anyway, put it all together, and including those all-important intangibles, the 2009 LVP is Milton Bradley. He was lousy on defense (minus-12 Dewan in right; minus-4.7 UZR) and not much on offense (99 OPS+ and missed 38 games with injuries). Plus, he was his usual pleasant self .. leaving Cubs GM Jim Hendry publicly babbling about how the team doesn’t HAVE to trade Bradley, they might WANT to keep Bradley, hey some of the best trades are the ones you DON’T make — while privately Hendry’s working the phones like Judy the Time Life Operator to get rid of this guy…

“But he (Bradley) turns 32 in April. And he’s Milton Bradley. A scout once told me that Bradley is the only high school player he ever scouted who hit a home run and did not have a single teammate come out to congratulate him. He’s only signed for two more years — he’s due $9 million and $12 million. Think about all you get for the money.”

Posnanski goes on to say that Alfonso Soriano should also be in the discussion, but he’s still going to go with Bradley.  It’s nice that the Cubs have two players competing for NL Least Valuable Player award.

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I almost didn’t include this bit of news, but Jon Heyman of Sports Illustrated is lumping the Cubs in with a group of teams that have an interest in Matt Holliday.  Seriously, Jon?  I suppose they have an interest in Holliday the same way they have an interest in John Lackey and Jason Bay.  Sure, they’d like to have all three players on their team, who wouldn’t.  But it’s not going to happen.

I don’t want to bash sportswriters.  God knows I spend more than my fair share reading them.  But how hard is it to just make up crap like this?  I usually like Jon Heyman, but I’m throwing the BS flag on this one.