WINTER HAVEN - Milton Bradley might soon be someone else's centerfielder, and problem. The Indians apparently have 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.
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 cleanup for the Indians this season. But the outfielder, 25, 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 ballclub," 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 helps Cleveland, he said.
With Bradley's expected trade, Coco Crisp and Alex Escobar probably will make the 25-man opening-day roster.
Wedge had planned to keep 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 centerfield wall while catching the game's final out in a 13-11 win over the Tigers on Thursday. "I think we both deserve to make the team."
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 training complex at 9:30 a.m.
Asked if Bradley was told not to report, Wedge said, "Yeah."
Shapiro said Bradley did not ask to be traded.
Bradley's agent, Seth Levinson, said both sides agreed to the separation to weigh their options.
"He left camp with the understanding and the agreement of the front office," Levinson said.
Meanwhile, Indians outfielder Ryan Ludwick had more surgery on his right knee and will be sidelined from baseball activities for eight weeks. Ludwick was unable to participate in spring training because of soreness.
PIAZZA GETS OFF: A rookie officer stopped Mets catcher Mike Piazza for driving 52 mph in a 30 mph residential zone in Port St. Lucie but decided not to issue a ticket, police said.
Officers Adrian Caudell, a trainee, and Jim Becker stopped Piazza's black BMW on Tuesday and recognized the 10-time All-Star, said Officer Kacey Donnell, a spokesman for Port St. Lucie police.
Caudell decided to issue a written warning rather than a speeding ticket, Donnell said. Court officials said the fine would have been $178.
"It was the officers' discretion," Donnell said. "There were no houses on the stretch of road and there were no other cars.
"In his limited experience as a police officer, he decided to give him a written warning."
TIGERS-DODGERS TRADE: Detroit traded outfielder Cody Ross to Los Angeles for left-handed pitcher Steve Colyer and a player to be named. Ross was the Tigers' minor-league player of the year in 2003 after batting .287 with 20 homers and a .515 slugging percentage at Triple-A Toledo.
The Tigers also optioned right-hander Ugueth Urbina to Class A Lakeland so the newly acquired closer can get more work before the season starts.
Also, a few hours after being given his unconditional release, former Devil Rays right-hander Esteban Yan re-signed with Detroit and still is in the mix to be the No. 5 starter, manager Alan Trammell said.
CUBS: Left-hander Glendon Rusch and infielder Damian Jackson signed minor-league contracts and were assigned toTriple-A Iowa.
EXPOS: Shortstop Orlando Cabrera did not play after bruising his right pinkie while fielding grounders before the game. X-rays were negative, and Cabrera is day to day.
PIRATES: Right-hander Kris Benson gave up four runs and eight hits in five innings against the Reds but was encouraged by his injury-free spring after missing the second half of last season with a sore shoulder. "I had no problems at all with my arm," he said. "I wanted to get my work done and everything in tune for the season, and I think I accomplished that."
REDS: Centerfielder Ken Griffey, out with a strained right calf, hit in a batting cage and ran on a treadmill at the minor-league complex in Sarasota and is scheduled to be re-evaluated today. He is expected to be ready for opening day Monday.
RED SOX: Trying to strengthen his relationship with Jason Varitek, right-hander Curt Schilling allowed the catcher to call every pitch during his four-inning stint. "I wanted to see how he worked with my stuff," said Schilling, who gave up a run on three hits. "He gave me a lot of confidence going into the year." Schilling, acquired during the offseason, didn't shake off Varitek once.
ROCKIES: Top pitching prospect Chin-hui Tsao and three other players were optioned to Triple A. Tsao, the majors' first Taiwanese-born pitcher, competed with fellow right-hander Denny Stark for the No. 5 rotation spot, awarded to Stark on Wednesday. Colorado also optioned right-hander Allan Simpson and outfielders Brad Hawpe and Choo Freeman to Colorado Springs.
ROYALS: The team is likely to become the first to open the season with four straight starts by left-handers. The rotation is expected to be Brian Anderson, Darrell May, Jeremy Affeldt and Jimmy Gobble.
TWINS: Left-hander Carlos Pulido was sent to Triple-A Rochester and right-handers Seth Greisinger and Pete Munro reassigned to minor-league camp.
WHITE SOX: Right-hander Esteban Loaiza left the game against the Rockies after the first with a stiff neck. Manager Ozzie Guillen said Loaiza is not expected to miss a start.
