Odds & Ends: Beckham, Bedard, Bonds, Mulder

Lots of high profile players in today’s Odds & Ends:

• The Rays have opened contract discussions with first overall pick Tim Beckham, says Marc Topkin.
• Phil Rogers of the Chicago Sports Tribune suggests we add Erik Bedard to the list of starting pitchers who may be available at the trade deadline.  More appropriately, Rogers also notes the M’s will most likely hold on to Bedard through 2009, a far more likely outcome.
• Also in the longshot rumor department, John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle speculates on Barry Bonds playing for the Red Sox.  Personally, I would predict there’s a 0.0% chance Bonds plays in Boston.
• In that same piece by John Shea, Mark Mulder could be done.  He’s rejecting the idea of a third surgery and attempting to alter his delivery to remain effective and pain free.
• Will Carroll reports Jeremy Bonderman has undergone surgery to overcome Thoracic Outlet Syndrome – as I understand it, a pinched vein causing a blood clot – and will need a minimum of 6 months to a year of recovery time.  This should keep Armando Gallaraga and Dontrelle Willis in the rotation.

By Nat Boyle