The Rays are likely to sign left-hander Erik Bedard to a minor league deal, tweets Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. MLB Daily Dish's Chris Cotillo noted yesterday that Tampa could add a veteran starter on a minor league deal in the near future and listed Bedard as a possibility (Twitter link).
The 34-year-old Bedard spent the 2013 campaign with the Astros, posting a 4.59 ERA with 8.2 K/9, 4.5 BB/9 and a 36.4 percent ground-ball rate in 151 innings as both a starter and reliever. Bedard has always been injury prone, but until the past two seasons, he had always been effective when on the active roster. From 2006-11, Bedard posted a 3.44 ERA and whiffed 679 batters against 245 walks in 671 1/3 innings. Since that time, however, he's turned in just a 4.78 ERA in 276 2/3 innings between Pittsburgh and Houston.
Though he was emerging as one of the game's better pitchers before being struck by injuries in the mid-2000s, Bedard is probably most famous for the trade that sent him from Baltimore to Seattle. Former Orioles president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail flipped Bedard to the Mariners in a trade that netted Adam Jones, Chris Tillman, George Sherrill, Kameron Mickolio and Tony Butler. Jones and Tillman, of course, are cornerstones in Baltimore now. Sherrill was flipped to the Dodgers in a trade for top prospect Josh Bell and righty Steve Johnson (who is still with the organization), and Mickolio was one of two pitchers used to acquire Mark Reynolds from Arizona.
The Rays have already added some pitching depth today, landing righty Nate Karns from the Nationals in exchange for Jose Lobaton and a pair of prospects. Signing Bedard would add to that depth — a need that is of increased importance due to the news that Jeremy Hellickson will miss the first six to eight weeks of the season following elbow surgery.
The Rays Way.
“Bedard is probably most famous for the trade that sent him from
Baltimore to Seattle. Former Orioles president of baseball operations
Andy MacPhail flipped Bedard to the Mariners in a trade that netted Adam Jones, Chris Tillman, George Sherrill, Kameron Mickolio and Tony Butler.”
Like we want to be reminded of that. *sigh*
Now there is a starter that will give you 4 good innings every time he goes out!
I think this is a good signing for rays, it’s a minor league deal that can be a hit or miss. He was pretty good for the Astros for a little bit. But he was on the Astros, it’s hard to pitch for a team like that.
I think this is a good signing for the rays. It’s just a minor league deal that can hit or miss. Erik bedard was really good for Astros for a little bit then it went downhill but when you pitch for a team like that it’s hard for a pitcher to go downhill.
Wouldn’t be surprised if he turns out to be the next successful Tampa Bay reclamation project
I would be. TB does well getting more performance out of guys than they should, but I doubt it out of bedard,, After you/they/fans watch him a little while? That lackadaisical look on his face truly is how he confronts the game now.. Pay me and I’ll step out to the mound, toss the ball and take what is coming.. He seems to truly not care any longer, as long as someone is sending him a check.
As an M’s fan, I’ve been saying that the team should sign Erik since their team is so thin with lefties. Bedard has never been one to pitch deep into games, but in the Astro’s opener last year, he came off the bench to relieve Norris and the team beat the heavily favored Rangers.
Beyond the bad 2008 trade with the O’s which was hardly Bedard’s fault, the M’s helped the French-Canadian hurler rehab from a bad labrum tear, then signed him to a one year deal in 2011 before trading him at the deadline to Boston. I think Bedard will transform himself into a solid bullpen arm with his same-old, wicked curve. Pisses me off that the M’s didn’t sign him. Probably why teams like the Ray’s and A’s stay one step ahead of their richer cousins.
I fully expect 150+ IP and about a 2.80 ERA, because Rays.
Roberto Hernandez though didn’t exactly shine like many thought last year.
Good for bedard, I always knew he’d come back and pitch like an allstar
I like this deal for Tampa. It’s not like he’s being counted on for much, what with Hellboy when he comes back from injury, Price, Cobb, Moore, Odorizzi, Archer, and Karns around. Even if Hellickson is gone for a while, that’s four formidable pitchers, plus Odorizzi and Karns before Bedard is even mentioned. If Bedard is healthy for once and someone stumbles, he’s solid depth.
Bedard took himself out out of his own no-hitter chance last year… because he was afraid that he might get hurt at some point later in his season or career. That should tell you all you need to know about where his head is: making money as long as possible.
Dude hasn’t really gotten paid like that. I think he’s concerned about his limitations being an injury prone pitcher. If anything, he wasn’t being greedy. Just cautious.
Tomato, to-mah-to. He’s trying to extend his career instead of winning now. I respect what you are saying, I just disagree. Guys who take themselves out of games because they “might” get hurt are trying to protect their health.. and their health is their bottom line. Maybe I’m just in a bad mood and being “glass half empty”.
wasn’t he at like 100 pitches after 6 innings or something? Why would Bedard want to go to like 160 pitches on the worst team by far for some personal achievement?
I get what everyone is saying. I am not thinking about it in terms of Bedard reaching a personal achievement, but more of him putting his career prospects ahead of the game at hand. Pitch until you can’t or the manager takes you out, not until you think you might be in jeopardy of possibly getting hurt.
You would think a guy with his injury history just doesn’t want to get injured again..
probably a low risk move by the rays, but another odd move of this post season. Its not a typical Rays type move plus take into account how awful Hernandez was last year. Taking on Bells big salary, signing Balfour to a big 2 year deal, not getting a decent offer for Price, trading away some good potential pitching for a utility INF from the padres and then trading Lobaton & a good young arm & a good young outfielder prospect for a potential bullpen or end of rotation guy. Don’t get it. Friedman has me beat here.