The Pirates released lefty Erik Bedard, reported Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review on Sulia. Michael Sanserino of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette later confirmed the story. The Pirates confirmed that they have released Bedard and announced that they'll make a related move this afternoon.
Bedard, 33, posted a 5.01 ERA, 8.5 K/9, 4.0 BB/9, 1.00 HR/9, and 43.3% groundball rate in 125 2/3 innings this year. The Bucs signed Bedard in December to a one-year, $4.5MM free agent deal, so they still owe him about $910K. Assuming Bedard hooks on somewhere, he's on track to reach 130 innings for the first time since 2007. He's had some nice runs this year, but an 8.79 ERA over his past three outings may have been the nail in the coffin for the Pirates as they battle for a wild card spot.
Veteran Kevin Correia could be a candidate to replace Bedard in the team's rotation. A.J. Burnett, James McDonald, Wandy Rodriguez and Jeff Karstens round out the Pirates' starting five.
Good to see the Bucs acting decisively for a change. Now, give McPherson or Locke the job, not Correia, otherwise it’s an empty move. And three days of seeing Clement is plenty.
Shows how much the writers don’t know about the Pirates, there is no way Corriea is getting that spot! You can say 3 days of seeing Clement is plenty again to! That guy just isn’t MLB material!
Agree! Correia is a #5 starter on an average rotation. For the Pirates, who I’d consider above average, and who more importantly have great starting prospects, Correia doesn’t make sense. He’d make sense if there was no chance at the playoffs and you needed someone to put up 6 innings every start regardless of effectiveness. LOL… McPherson, Locke, LeRoux, maybe Cole? 😉 Locke would probably be the safest bet at succeeding in the majors right now in a playoff race.
*Sigh*. Yet another soul lost in the wasteland that is the 2012 installment of my dynasty league. With him: Michael Pineda, John Danks, Matt Garza, Sergio Santos, Will Middlebrooks, Brett Lawrie, and Carlos Ruiz.
Enter Alex Anthopolous.
Good move. At least Bedard was healthy this year but he was a major disappointment. Started out well but would have one good game and three bad ones. At least Correia kept them in most of the games he pitched.
Also his IP total is pretty lousy. I was pretty happy when they signed Bedard as I’ve always been a fan of him but I see now why he’s frustrating.
I would like to see Gerritt Cole brought up but probably just put in the pen to preserve his innings and give the team a strong arm out of the pen.
Return to Boston?
Should’ve returned a long time ago if the Pirates got him for that price. But yeah, I’d take him.
So would I, he was decent on the tail end of last season.
Wow. Surprising. Advanced stats say he was better than his ERA this year (4.07 FIP), but he was definitely a major disappointment.
Somewhat surprising for me. Though I don’t love him as a starter i could’ve seen him as a decent lefty out of the ‘pen, and teams need lefties. If Bedard can’t go the 5-6 innings without giving up 4 or 5 runs, just make him a reliever. He’s been decent to start games off but by the 4th inning he’s pretty much toast. He’ll latch on with someone else for sure.
Somewhat surprising for me. Though I don’t love him as a starter, i could’ve seen him as a decent lefty out of the ‘pen to pitch a couple innings here and there. If Bedard couldn’t get through 5-6 innings without giving up 4 or 5 runs, why not try him out of the ‘pen. From what I can remember from his starts this year, he’d start off the game pretty good, usually giving up at most 1 run, but by the 4th he would get hammered. He’ll latch on with another team for sure. Dodgers anybody?
About time!!
Here come the Dodgers, another starter available 🙂
It seems he should get a shot as a reliever. It’d be easier on his arm, and he has held lefties to .215 average
I’ve always liked Bedard. I hope he lands on his feet somewhere.
“as they battle for a wild card spot” — I like your optimism, but it’s not even a given the Pirates will finish over .500 this year, especially if they replace Bedard with Correia in the rotation.
This screams Cardinals reclamation project.
Your friend “guest” said the same thing.
This has Cardinals reclamation project written all over it.
Dave’s gone, man…
Sad to see him go, but it’s probably for the best.
Eric Bedard is a low cost Lefthander and could be a 5th starter. His Fastball is weaken this year and he has a good curve and change-up pitch. I think that The SF Giants could take a flyer on Bedard.
The problem with Bedard is that he still has the mentality of a guy with plus stuff. There were starts this year that he couldn’t even hit 92-93 consistently, and he doesn’t have the control to be a finesse starter. Watching him labor through starts this summer was painful. Three innings, 80 pitches….etc. When he starts trying to hit the corners on every pitch, he falls apart in a hurry. I don’t see him working out of the bullpen for anyone, let alone a team in the AL. Hopefully he gets back in shape (he’s carrying 15-20 pounds of pure fat in his midsection) and catches on somewhere in 2013.
With Jason Vargas and Kevin Millwood possibly leaving Seattle Mariners in a trade or two, Eric Bedard may be an option to return to the Pacific NW to help out the young pitching staff, esp. as a 3rd or 4th starting pitcher. Pirates should get pitcher Danny Farquhar (obtained in a trade from the Yankees for Ichiro), and outfielder Trayvon Robinson. He would have quite of few new teammates there than from over few years ago. Please give Bedard another chance in Seattle.
Bedard isn’t even worth one of those guys, especially for one month of a rebuilding season.
The Orioles should consider picking him up as another starter or long reliever.
Are you saying you want the O’s to lose their wild card spot?
oh come on………… Us Cardinals fans need him in the Bucs lineup every 5 games.