•Ron Washington and the Texas Rangers have signed Milton Bradley for the next year. According to MLB.com:
"I would be very comfortable with Milton Bradley," Washington said on Wednesday.
The manager is getting his wish. The Rangers have reached an agreement with Bradley on a one-year contract worth approximately $5 million plus incentives, according to Major League officials Sunday.
The Rangers are well aware of Bradley's history, but general manager Jon Daniels said at the Winter Meetings that they would do their own homework on him rather than rely on hearsay. Washington knows Bradley from their year together with the Athletics in 2006.
Washington was asked about Bradley's reputation at the Winter Meetings and said, "No, I don't think I want to sit here and defend Milton. I want to let you know that if Milton were to become available to the Texas Rangers, we would like to have him."
The Rangers have him, pending a physical.
•Also from MLB.com, another high-profile player from Japan may be joining the major leagues this year:
Kosuke Fukudome may be coming to America.
Japan's Nikkansports reported Sunday that the outfielder has decided not to play for the Yomiuri Giants and will sign with a Major League team instead. The Giants, the elite team in Japan, were believed to be the only team Fukudome would have played for if he had decided to stay.
Fukudome, 30, has a career .305 batting average over nine seasons with the Chunichi Dragons, who won their first Japan championship in 53 years on Nov. 2.
The Cubs, White Sox and Padres are considered to be teams of interested if this does happen.
•Gagne is close to signing with the Brewers.
After acquiring Torres on Friday, Melvin said the goal was to add guys with experience, and he noted that bullpen coach Billy Castro has had success at resurrecting pitchers' careers. Gagne may be another candidate.
Melvin had talked to Gagne's agent during the Winter Meetings, but he apparently did not want to sign the right-hander to a multi-year contract.
I could comment for pages and pages, but I thought I’d just put the news out there.
