Bradley Could Miss Some Spring Training

Mariners outfielder Milton Bradley could miss some of spring training because of a March 9 hearing with the Los Angeles City Attorney's office related to felony charges of making criminal threats, Geoff Baker of the Seattle Times reported Wednesday.

Bradley, 32, was arrested Jan. 18 in Encino, Calif., after a woman told police he had threatened her. Baker reports that the woman is his wife and that Bradley filed for divorce from her in 2006, but the divorce was never finalized. The couple has a 5-year-old son.

Baker also reports that police have responded to domestic violence calls at the couple's home three times.

Bradley was due to be arraigned Tuesday, but that appearance was pushed back to March 9 and will instead be with the Los Angeles City Attorney's office. Bradley and his wife will be interviewed and prosecutors will decide then whether to continue with the case.

Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik said last month that Bradley is expected to compete for a job at spring training.

"What we hope is he bounces back to be the player he was in the past and that will dictate whether he's on the club," Zduriencik told Dave Mahler of KJR last month. "I'd like to see Milton have a bounce-back year."

He faces competition in left field from expected starter Michael Saunders, along with spring training invitees Ryan Langerhans, Gabe Gross and Jody Gerut. Jack Cust will be the primary designated hitter.

Bradley is set to earn $12 million in the final year of his contract.

Bradley has a history of run-ins with police. In 2004 he was arrested for allegedly confronting an officer in Ohio during a traffic stop.

He pleaded guilty in 2004 to a reduced charge for and served three days in jail. Later that year, he was charged with failure to comply after allegedly driving away from a police officer after failing to sign a speeding ticket.

When he played for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2005, he threw a plastic water bottle at a fan and confronted a Los Angeles Times reporter in the clubhouse.

Bradley was acquired from the Chicago Cubs before the 2010 season in exchange for pitcher Carlos Silva and was expected to provide some much needed offense. He clashed with Cubs manager Lou Piniella and wore out his welcome in Chicago.

He took a leave from the team and was placed on the restricted list early in the season to deal with emotional issues. He underwent knee surgery in August and missed the remainder of the season.

He played just 73 games for the Mariners last season – his eighth major league club. He hit .205 with a .292 on-base percentage and a .348 slugging percentage. He had eight home runs and 29 RBIs.

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