Latest Erik Bedard Rumors: Tuesday

UPDATE, 12-4-07 at 11:36pm: Geoff Baker says that a Bedard trade with the Mariners would likely involve Wladimir Balentien, Adam Jones, and Brandon Morrow.

UPDATE, 12-4-07 at 11:06pm: The Dodgers met with the Orioles to talk Bedard today.  Ned Colletti has pretty much deemed Broxton untouchable, and no deal is close.

UPDATE, 12-4-07 at 10:19pm: John Fay says the Reds are seriously pursuing Bedard.  Wayne Krivsky won’t reveal much, but Fay thinks Bailey, Votto, and another prospect might interest the Orioles.

UPDATE, 12-4-07 at 10:16pm: The Mets again offered Heilman, Gomez, and Humber for Bedard, perhaps thinking that offering it twice would be helpful.  MLB.com’s Marty Noble says the Mets may reconfigure their offer, replacing Humber with Pelfrey or Mulvey.

UPDATE, 12-4-07 at 4:10pm: Joel Sherman confirms the Cubs’ interest, so that’s officially 11 teams in on Bedard.  Sherman says the Yankees and Mets are unlikely to snag the southpaw ace, and names the Dodgers as the frontrunner.  Peter Angelos is letting Andy MacPhail run the show but doesn’t want Bedard traded within the division.  Sorry Yankees and Blue Jays.

UPDATE, 12-4-07 at 3:10pm: Nick Cafardo notes that Cubs GM Jim Hendry and Andy MacPhail had lunch today, which leads him to believe they may have discussed Bedard.  A bit of a stretch since Hendry and MacPhail used to work together.  Then again the Cubs did pursue in a Mark Prior/Miguel Tejada deal a few years back.  The Cubs would represent the 11th team in on Bedard.

UPDATE, 12-4-07 at 3:01pm: Buster Olney says the Jays continue to talk with the Orioles about Bedard, noting that the Jays have the young pitching.  Bedard would certainly represent the Canadian draw they’ve been looking for.

UPDATE, 12-4-07 at 2:16pm: There is growing buzz that the Dodgers may get Bedard.  ESPN’s Amy Nelson has a source saying a deal may be close.  Matt Kemp and Jonathan Broxton would be the main pieces of a trade.  Readers are reporting in that WFAN is saying the same.

UPDATE, 12-4-07 at 9:32am: The Mets are still hawking Gomez, trying to get Bedard.  Joel Sherman adds the Tigers to the list of teams after Bedard, bringing the total to ten.  He says the Tigers and Phils are getting creative trying to get Bedard.  The Tigers don’t need to get that creative – they can offer Cameron Maybin and Andrew Miller.

FROM 12-4-07 at 8:45am:

How many teams are after Erik Bedard?  The tally yesterday included the Phillies, Cardinals, Yankees, Mets, Mariners, Angels, Dodgers, and D’Backs – that’s eight.  The Baltimore Sun’s Jeff Zrebiec and Dan Connolly check in with the latest on the Orioles’ ace.

• There’s been a ton of trade interest in Bedard (as you might expect).  Andy MacPhail is still talking about signing him to an extension, but no one really buys it.  The package he’ll get in trade should rival what the Twins get for Johan.
• The Dodgers, Mariners, and Mets have been pursuing Bedard the most aggressively.  More meetings with the Mets should occur today.  The Mariners could make an intriguing offer built around Adam Jones and Brandon Morrow.
• A new team is added to bring the tally to nine: the Reds are interested.  However, Jay Bruce is off the table.