over and out?
Haven’t seen anything official on this, but Chad Bradford appears to have retired. The former Hinds Community College and Southern Miss star, known for his distinctive submarine-style delivery, became a free agent after last season and remains unsigned. Because of injuries, he pitched only 10 1/3 inings for Tampa Bay in 2009 and told a Florida newspaper last fall that he was pondering retirement. Bradford, 35, debuted in the big leagues in 1998 and posted a 36-28 record with 11 saves and a 3.26 ERA over his career. Good numbers. Here’s a better one: 0.39. That was Bradford’s ERA in 24 postseason appearances.
P.S. Among Pittsburgh’s first cuts of the spring on Sunday were former Mississippi Braves Brandon Jones and Gorkys Hernandez. Hernandez isn’t big league-ready yet, but the Jones move was a surprise. The Pirates plucked him off waivers from Atlanta a few weeks ago but gave him only eight at-bats this spring. Maybe he isn’t 100 percent healthy. Jones, a left fielder with a sweet lefty swing, is on the 40-man roster, so he’ll likely be back with the big league club at some point. He could help the Pirates.