Erik Bedard Trade Update
6:57pm: A momentous occasion: Bedard is in Seattle for the physical. This indicates that Adam Jones and George Sherrill passed theirs.
1:58pm: And now for your daily Erik Bedard trade update: he’s headed to Seattle for his physical. It seems likely that a press conference will happen Friday.
Become An MLBTR Fan On Facebook
Have a Facebook account? Considering getting one? Check out the MLBTradeRumors.com Facebook page. Right now we have 2,231 fans and counting. One nice benefit of being a Facebook MLBTR fan is that you’re the first to know when I book radio appearances. Also, if you’d like to help spread the word, you can join the MLBTradeRumors.com Facebook group, which has 1,100 members.
Upcoming: Marquette Radio at 4pm CST on February 10th, and University of Dayton Radio on February 13th at 11am CST. You can listen to both online – check the Facebook page for details.
Erik Bedard Rumors
7:31pm: In case you wanted another update…the Sun says Bedard is still at home and hasn’t traveled to Seattle for a physical yet.
4:56pm: John Hickey says an official announcement won’t come today and may come on Wednesday.
8:54am: The Erik Bedard trade has had many accompanying micro-rumors as it’s dragged along. The current micro-rumor, courtesy of Roch Kubatko of the Baltimore Sun, is that Bedard is expected to take his physical today. I think we’re all ready for an official announcement.
Jeff Zrebiec says the framework has been agreed upon, and it’s the players we’ve been discussing for the past few days. At any rate we should have an announcement by week’s end.
Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Erik Bedard
Another one of baseball’s top young lefties is about to be traded. Last week it was Johan Santana. This week it appears as if Erik Bedard is going to be traded to the Mariners for Adam Jones, a relief pitcher and three top pitching prospects. Despite rumors of a completed deal over a week ago, and worries that Peter Angelos might kill the deal, reports appear to indicate that the trade could be finalized. Any. Minute. Now. But before the deal is completed, let’s take a look at reactions to the Bedard trade from the blogosphere.
- Camden Chat says farewell and thanks to Erik Bedard. They are now looking forward to watching the 2008 Baltimore Orioles even if the team is destined to lose 100 games.
- Oriole Magic thinks this entire saga has been more interesting than the regular season will turn out to be.
- Bleacher Report says there is no prize for finishing 4th in the AL East (tell that to Rays fans) and Peter Angelos needs to OK the deal.
- Detect-O-Vision compares the Johan Santana deal to the Erik Bedard deal. While the Mariners appear to be offering more for Bedard, their system is much deeper than the Mets and they can afford the price.
- Caffeinated Confines takes a look at who will play right field for the Mariners if Adam Jones is traded.
- Bugs & Cranks thinks that this deal, along with the Miguel Tejada deal are moves that the Orioles should have made years ago.
- Fake Teams takes a look at the three pitching prospects that are expected to be acquired by the Orioles.
Cubs/Brian Roberts Update
Buster Olney has the latest on the Cubs’ talks to acquire second baseman Brian Roberts. According to Olney:
Sources involved in Baltimore’s trade talks with Chicago expressed confidence that at some point, the Orioles and Cubs will finish the proposed Brian Roberts deal.
Olney says Sean Gallagher would be the centerpiece of the deal. On February 3rd, ESPN’s Jayson Stark said Gallagher or Sean Marshall would be included, but beyond that nothing has been decided.
C.C. Sabathia Extension Rumors
2-5-08 at 9:50am: Indians GM Mark Shapiro has no plans to trade Sabathia. Not a big surprise, since they’re a contending team.
2-4-08: Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer has some details about the Indians’ December contract extension offer to ace C.C. Sabathia. The four-year extension would run from 2009 through 2012 and is believed to be between $68-72MM. There would also probably be some kind of bonus added to Sabathia’s $11.25MM ’08 salary to bring him more in line with his peers.
If Sabathia compares himself to Jake Peavy and Carlos Zambrano, then the Indians’ offer has a chance. But the new Johan bar is set at about $23MM per year. Hoynes says the Tribe is probably going to have to revise its offer because of the Mets’ new ace. Peter Gammons says Santana is "the reason the Indians have no chance of re-signing Sabathia unless someone finds oil in Lake Erie."
You can bet Sabathia and his free agent adventure will receive a ton of coverage from this site come December.
Erik Bedard Trade Almost Done
5:31pm: Baker update: Sherrill made an appearance in Baltimore to take his physical this morning. The O’s may not need to examine the three young pitchers coming over. Bedard has yet to fly out to Seattle but this thing should be done by week’s end. Meanwhile Jason Churchill (righthand sidebar of his site) is 100% convinced the trade will happen and expects an announcement soon.
3:53pm: Sean Welsh of the Baltimore Examiner says the deal could be completed soon but not finalized today.
12:47pm: Geoff Baker checks in, mostly to dismiss any rumor of Brian Roberts being added to the deal. I hadn’t heard that one from any legitimate outlet.
10:51am: The Sun has an update: this deal is nearing completion, pending physicals. Jones is officially in Baltimore for his physical. The deal may be announced later today.
MONDAY, 7:48am: This Baltimore Sun article was posted at 2:48am CST today. Jeff Zrebiec said no one’s taken a physical yet, but "officials from both sides remain confident a deal can be reached."
SUNDAY, 10:43pm: John Hickey of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer says Adam Jones went to Baltimore today for that long-awaited physical. Hickey says this physical is the only remaining impediment to the Mariners swapping Erik Bedard for Jones, George Sherrill, Tillman, Mickolio, and Butler. Sounds like we might have an announcement on Monday or Tuesday.
SUNDAY, 11:39am: Larry Stone of the Seattle Times gives his take on the Erik Bedard situation. The money quote:
All current indications are that, after all the histrionics of the past week, the Mariners and Orioles will really, truly, actually, once and for all, no turning back, no mulligans, no backing out, no passing go, get this trade done. But check back tomorrow, because nothing is for certain in this messed-up deal.
Stone also adds that Adam Jones was not in Baltimore for a physical on Friday, contrary to other reports. He also gives some details about the three tall pitchers rumored to be part of the deal – Chris Tillman, Kam Mickolio, and Tony Butler.
Red Sox To Let Beckett Walk After 2010?
In Peter Gammons latest piece, he explores the trickle-down effect that the extension signed by Johan Santana will have on other pitchers. While the article focuses on pitchers closer to free agency (ie. C.C. Sabathia), there was one surprising quote from an unnamed Red Sox official:
We’d better enjoy Josh Beckett the next three years. Because we won’t be able to sign him after his deal is up after 2010.
Beckett, who finished second in the Cy Young voting this past season, will be 28 on Opening Day and is scheduled to make $9.5MM this season, $10.5MM next season, and has a $12MM team option for 2010. While Beckett will certainly command top-dollar on the open market, it is hard to imagine he would seek a deal in the same range as Santana or Barry Zito, even with inflation factored in. Both Santana ($137.5MM) and Zito ($126MM) are lefties and signed their deals prior to their age 29 season. Beckett, a righty will be 31 when he begins his next deal. Still it is interesting to note that the Red Sox may have already resigned to the idea of not retaining the services of their ace past 2010.
Astros Interested In Bartolo Colon
According to Enrique Rojas of ESPN Deportes, the Astros will have two scouts watching Bartolo Colon pitch Wednesday in the Dominican Republic. Astros GM Ed Wade said he’s not at the point of talking contract yet, which makes sense. A factor determining Wade’s budget will be the arbitration hearings of Mark Loretta and Jose Valverde.
Colon indicated a preference to pitch in the National League, and expects to sign next week.
Feedback Needed On Commenting System
Many MLBTR readers are not satisfied with the current commenting system, which is called TypeKey.
Next week I will join a call with the TypeKey people, who are promising major changes to the system in ’08. I would love for readers to use this post as a chance to give feedback on TypeKey. What doesn’t work right? What bothers you? What features need to be added to be on par with other commenting systems? Let’s hear it – your feedback is incredibly valuable here.