Milton Bradley is going places this season he's rarely, or never, been.

He has played in 113 games, already the second most in his career. He has managed to stay off the DL for only the second time since 2001. He appeared in his first All-Star Game.

With just over three weeks to go, he is also locked in a tight race with Boston's Dustin Pedroia for what could be his first batting title. The two will play a series head-to-head when Boston arrives for its only Arlington visit of the season today.

"Winning the batting title wouldn't mean as much as making the All-Star team," Bradley said. "But when we were playing the Angels last week, some friends told me not to come back to Long Beach without it."

Despite having major knee surgery last year and playing with a balky quadriceps for much of the second half of the season, Bradley has come closer to reaching his superstar potential than ever before.

He has a wide lead over the rest of the league in on-base percentage (.446) and is the only hitter in the AL with an on base plus slugging percentage above 1.0 (1.031). He has already set career highs in home runs (22) and RBIs (74).

LOUIS DeLUCA / DMN

The Texas Rangers' Milton Bradley is second in the American League in batting average.

View largerMore photos Photo store

That leads to this question: Will Bradley, who signed a one-year deal for $5 million with the Rangers last December, be going even more places when the season is done? Like to another team in free agency?

Based on his 2008 season, Bradley, 30, could be one of the most productive hitters. That would suggest it would take a big dollars and multiple years worth of commitment to sign him. The Rangers will almost certainly offer Bradley at least a one-year deal in salary arbitration and would gladly work towards a settlement. If the Rangers don't offer multiple years and Bradley signs elsewhere, the club could receive up to two draft picks as compensation.

General manager Jon Daniels has told Bradley's representative that the club won't discuss any kind of deal until after the season.

"It doesn't really affect our view of Milton if he finishes first, fifth or 10th in the batting race," Daniels said. "He's an excellent hitter regardless."

Bradley said only that he has to keep all his options open. This may be the one chance he has to get a multi-year deal. While happy with what he's accomplished on the field and comfortable in the clubhouse, he said he's had "happier" seasons elsewhere because those teams went to the playoffs.

"There were a lot of people waiting to say 'I told you so about Milton Bradley' after I got hurt," Bradley said. "I turned all that into a positive. I think I've played better coming off knee surgery than anybody would have expected."