Erik Bedard Rumors

The Baltimore Sun's Jeff Zrebiec has the latest regarding ace Erik Bedard.  Some rank Bedard as the best available starter, all-in-all - he's under team control for longer than Johan Santana, doesn't have no-trade rights, and has better stuff than Dan Haren.

• The Orioles and Bedard's agent never actually exchanged salary figures, and now contract extension talks have come to a stop.  Andy MacPhail isn't concerned but no one seems to expect the O's to pony up the money needed to retain their ace beyond 2009. Johan Santana should set the bar; Bedard may become a $20MM pitcher.
• Zrebiec lists the Yankees, Mets, Mariners, Angels, and Dodgers as teams that have inquired on Bedard.  It's surprising to see the Red Sox omitted from that list.
• The Mets made an offer: Carlos Gomez, Aaron Heilman, and perhaps Phil Humber.  That's an OK starting point but the O's could do better.
• The Dodgers have also had talks with the O's, with Matt Kemp, Jonathan Broxton, and Clayton Kershaw coming up.  That's certainly worth mulling over.

Comments

[brewtown]

If the dodgers offered those 3 (I know it doesn't say that), they'd have to take right?

[Mr_Punch]

Yeah, I think they would take that.

[SpecialFNK]

would the Jays have interest in Bedard?
ive been reading from Jays fans that Bedard is someone they want. not only because hes a good pitcher, but because hes Canadian.
some have said its better to wait until he becomes a free agent and that he might be willing to come to Toronto(Canada) for less because he is Canadian.

would it be wise for Toronto to wait? or should they be exploring a trade and then sign him to an extension?

[xwoojinx]

What about this trade with the red sox?

Bedard for - Crisp, Lester, Delcarmen and prospect

The orioles have been noted to be interested in crisp. lester would take over bedards lefty spot in the rotation, they need another reliable bullpen arm.

thoughts?

I really hope the red sox dont get santana. hes great but too much money. they need to start trimming payroll.

[ProjectMayhem]

If they were able to get back Tejada to play 3B and added LaRoche I think it could be considered and would make sense for both teams. Otherwise, I think the Dodgers are better off trading that package to the Marlins as they need Cabrera's bat more than Bedard's arm...

[Jzzskins]

You know i like to see the Rays get in on this trade- Longoria For Beddard and have a Rotation of Kazmir, Sheilds, Beaddard and Garza for a couple of years and get a new Stadium.

That Rays Rotation and revamped bullpen would be Pretty Scary for Sox and Yanks Fans in 08 & 09.

[xwoojinx]

jzzskins...

there is no way a longoria for bedard deal would happen. i dont care how good longoria is. you dont trade a pitching stud (who is a lefty no less) for one position player. the rays would have to throw a bunch of other players in there...or atleast an mlb ready player

[GmblngPtchr20]

Dont count out the Reds for Bedard. WK is being active and the O's are ready to send him off for good young prospects, which the Reds have.

[AdropOFvenom]

I think the biggest question that needs to be asked is Would Baltimore even trade Bedard within their division. If they take the Yankees and Red Sox out of the equation (Except maybe using one of them to drive up the price), I almost think you'd have to consider the Mets the front-runners for Bedard should he be dealt (As the LA teams both need a big bat much more then they need a pitcher).

Obviously Gomez, Heilman, Humber probably isn't enough, but I'm assuming that was more of a starting point then a final offer.

[ProjectMayhem]

The Mets just traded Milledge to the Nats for a 31 year-old C and a 29 year-old RF with little power. They are NOT going to now turn around and trade Gomez in a deal for pitching. Plus, the perception right now is that the Mets young pitching prospects aren't worth that much. As I posted earlier Bedard AND Tejada to LA for prospects makes sense for both teams...

[scribbletone]

If the Dodgers offered Kershaw, Kemp, Broxton for Bedard and it gets turned down, then the Orioles fans should be crying. That means they could have had Kershaw, Kemp, Broxton and either Roy Oswalt and Adam Everett, or Erick Aybar and Ervin Santana. Instead they have Miguel Tejada and an incredibly good ace who appears to have no plans to sign an extension with them in Bedard.

And also, there is no way in hell the Rays get their hands on Bedard, even if they could get him straight up for Longoria. Longoria hasnt even been brought up, so his arbitration clock hasnt even began ticking yet. Meanwhile, Bedard signing with the Rays would be impossible with their budget, so that idea is stupid from just about every angle you take.

But I do think I could see the Reds getting in on this. They have the talent to get it done, and I could see a deal forming around something like this:
Reds get: Erik Bedard
Orioles get: Joey Votto, Johnny Cueto, Josh Hamilton and Jeff Keppinger/Ryan Freel.
I think that could win the Reds the NL Central.
C- Ross
1B- Hatteberg/Cantu
2B- Phillips
3B- Encarnacion
SS- A. Gonzalez
LF- Dunn
CF- Bruce
RF- Griffey Jr.
Rotation
Bedard
Harang
Arroyo
Belisle
Bailey
Also they have an improved bullpen surrounding around Francisco Cordero.

That team would actually be incredibly good, and the Reds would manage to hold on to their two best prospects in Bruce and Bailey, and would mostly be dealing from their surplusses.

[JD]

The only place ive seen Coco Crisp mentioned as a possiblity in a trade that WASNT A SALARY DUMP was the Boston Globe and NESN. Its overhype Red Sox fan bull****. Nobody's giving up a good starter, much less top-of-the-line ones for a below average outfielder who makes ++ $5 million. His offense is very weak.