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Jays Cool On Bedard?

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There’s a long-running rumor that Canada native Erik Bedard will sign with the Blue Jays when he reaches free agency after the ’09 season.

However, Geoff Baker writes today:

But sources in Toronto indicated on Monday that the team has cooled on Bedard and may no longer be interested in acquiring him — now or later. The Jays have had some public-relations issues the past few seasons with A.J. Burnett, a pitcher expected to use an escape clause to opt out of his five-year deal with Toronto after this season.

Baker is suggesting the Jays may be reluctant to do another long-term deal with a media-unfriendly pitcher.  Burnett and Bedard both tantalize, underachieving despite ace repertoires.  Bedard’s next contract will be a risky one, perhaps five years at top dollar like Burnett’s. 

Back in February, John Hickey wrote that he expected the Mariners to sign Bedard to an extension.  Bedard’s mediocre results through 11 starts may give them pause. 

Erik Bedard Speculation

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So far, we haven’t read any actual rumors suggesting the Mariners will shop Erik Bedard.  However, it’s become a prevalent discussion topic among the team’s beat writers.  John McGrath even suggests Phillies GM Pat Gillick should acquire Bedard as his last hurrah.  The Phils do have a history of interest in the lefty.

Though they don’t get much press, the Phillies have three Top 100 prospects in Carlos Carrasco, Adrian Cardenas, and Joe Savery.  Gillick could certainly pull off a trade, though it’s interesting to note that the Phils have used the same five starters all year.

Almost half the teams in baseball had interest in Bedard last winter.  That list has narrowed, but there should be healthy competition for his services if the Mariners make him available.  I wonder if Bill Bavasi would get to call the shots this time around. 

Odds & Ends: Beckham, Bedard, Bonds, Mulder

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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

Crasnick On Griffey And Dunn

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Jerry Crasnick comments today on the Reds new youth movement and what that might mean for Ken Griffey Jr and Adam Dunn.

Crasnick notes that it will be difficult to replace Dunn’s production, but wonders if he just needs a change of scenery. Dunn does not appear to have any desire to enter negotiations on an extension and still seems to be harboring some bad feelings towards the club…Although Crasnick doesn’t specifically speculate, it sounds as if the Reds would be best served trading Dunn.

As for Griffey, Crasnick believes that Griffey might be willing to renegotiate his $16.5MM ’09 option if the team is willing to add a second year on to the deal. However, Crasnick is not sure the Reds are willing to keep Griffey around until he is 40. Crasnick does speculate that even though the Mariners poor start eliminates the possibility of a trade during the season, the M’s may be willing to bring Griffey back in ’09 as a free agent to play first base, especially with Richie Sexson’s contract set to expire.

Cork Gaines writes for Rays Index and can be reached here .

Yanks, Cashman To Talk Extension

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According to Ed Price of the Newark Star-Ledger, Hank Steinbrenner will discuss an extension with GM Brian Cashman this week (hat tip to River Avenue Blues).  Steinbrenner’s "impression" is that both sides want to continue the relationship.

Possibilities if Cashman wants a change: the opening in Philadelphia, and Seattle if the Mariners fire Bill Bavasi.  Bavasi blames himself for putting together the last-place Ms.

Draft Day Roundup

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The draft is just four hours away.  We’ll be live-blogging it here at MLBTR.  Here are today’s draft links.

Speculating on Sexson, Hatteberg

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Geoff Baker of the Seattle Times writes of "mounting speculation" about  Richie Sexson’s situation with the Mariners and "a growing call among fans" for Seattle to acquire recently DFA’d Scott Hatteberg from the Reds to replace him. The Mets are reportedly also in the mix for Hatteberg, who was designated on May 27. Hatteberg is 38 and hitting .173. He did, however, hit .310 last year.

Sexson, only 33, is struggling to clear the Mendoza line at present.  The struggle began last year when he hit .205 in 121 games. However, of his 31 hits this year, nine have been homers. It’s also worth noting that his average has been much better (.333) against lefties, though of course, it’s a piteously small sample size (36 plate appearances). Even so, he wouldn’t be very useful as a role player considering that he has been a DH/1B since 2000. He’s in the last year of his contract, he’s not fragile, and yet I can’t think of a single team who would sign him if Seattle does release him. Possibly the Indians? The Rangers? Any other ideas?

Sarah Green writes for UmpBump and the Boston Metro. She can be reached here.

Stark’s Latest: Braves, Robertson, Igawa

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Jayson Stark has a new Rumblings and Grumblings column up.  Let’s take a look.

  • While Greg Maddux is not out of the question, the Braves are more interested in a younger starter they can control for multiple years.
  • One possibly available starter who hasn’t gotten much buzz: Nate Robertson.  The 30 year-old southpaw hasn’t pitched well since ’06, and he’s signed through 2010.
  • The Mariners will probably talk about Miguel Batista and Jarrod Washburn, but not Erik Bedard.  No big surprise there.  Both Batista and Washburn are signed through ’09.
  • Stark rattles off a bunch of available relievers.  Mostly names you’d expect, but click through and take a look.
  • Kei Igawa, signed through 2011, asked the Yankees if they could find a way to ship him back to Japan during the winter.  They couldn’t find a way to make it work.

Mets, Mariners Interested In Hatteberg

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THURSDAY: MLB.com’s Marty Noble says the Mets have already discussed Hatteberg internally.  They could move quickly to sign him after he clears waivers, but Marlon Anderson’s injury is a factor here.

Additionally, the Mariners are "actively pursuing" Hatteberg.  The Ms actually started Miguel Cairo at first last night.

WEDNESDAY: According to Ken Davidoff of Newsday, "the Mets have some, but only some" interest in recently-designated first baseman Scott Hatteberg.  Davidoff says the Mets will wait until Hatteberg clears waivers and then perhaps see if Hatteberg is open to a minor league deal.

Hatteberg is a left-handed hitter who succeeds against righties (as is often the case).  Carlos Delgado hasn’t succeeded against anyone this year, but previously he had the same splits as Hatteberg.  The two don’t match up for a platoon, but it’d make sense for the Mets to keep Hatteberg at Triple A until they decide whether to cut Delgado (.215/.294/.387 in 204 PAs).

Gammons On Available Pitchers

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ESPN’s Peter Gammons names ten starting pitchers who could be available in the coming months.  We’ll try to devise a comprehensive list when we get to the position in our Trade Market series.

Gammons’ trade possibilities: Paul Byrd, Jeremy Sowers, Derek Lowe, Rich Harden, Odalis Perez, Brett Tomko, Jarrod Washburn, Zach Duke, Vicente Padilla, and Kevin Millwood.  Byrd, Lowe, Perez, and Tomko will be free agents after the season.  Sowers and Duke are the kids.  Harden is the oft-injured ace.  Washburn, Padilla, and Millwood bring burdensome contracts.

Gammons also five "unlikely, but not impossible" scenarios.  He suggests A.J. Burnett, Bartolo Colon, Joe Blanton, Greg Maddux, and Ben Sheets could be moved under the right circumstances.

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