PEORIA, Ariz., March 28 (UPI) -- Current Seattle Mariners and ex-Chicago Cubs outfielder Milton Bradley dismissed members of Chicago media Sunday, saying, "You guys ran me out of town."
Bradley, whose departure from the Cubs after a poor season last year was surrounded by controversy and acrimony, encountered the team's beat reporters before a game at the Mariners' spring training home in Peoria, Ariz.
During the confrontation, he blamed them for turning Cubs fans against him, the Chicago Tribune reported.
Asked to comment, Bradley reportedly said, "No chance. Beat it. You guys ran me out of town. Never again."
The Tribune said that when one reporter challenged the claim, Bradley flashed a peace sign and said "Peace" while walking away.
Cubs Manager Lou Piniella told the newspaper he didn't feel the press was hard on Bradley, saying, "I don't think the media was unfair to anybody. The amazing thing about Milton is that ... he played hard when he played. He just didn't offensively do the things that (Cubs General Manager) Jim (Hendry) envisioned when we brought him over here."
