Bedard Deal Finally Done

According to the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Erik Bedard will finally make his way to Seattle to pass a physical and put an end to another grueling trade. The return for Bedard is expected to be Adam Jones, George Sherrill, Chris Tillman, Kam Mickolio, and Tony Butler.

By including Jones [a top 10 prospect in baseball] and Tillman [a top five prospect in their farm system] the Mariners certainly gave up enough to acquire Bedard. However, waiting the Orioles out a bit allowed the M's to lessen the demand. In doing so, Seattle was able to remove top shortstop prospect Carlos Triunfel and powerhitting outfielder Wladimir Balentien from their package.

According to the report, the deal is believed to be announced on Friday.

Mariners, Bedard Inch Closer

Considering the biblical nature of the Johan Santana trade talks, the Erik Bedard saga is making its way as a close second this offseason. However, a deal is reportedly inching forward and could be completed very soon. According to the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, "Mariners outfielder Adam Jones traveled to Baltimore on Sunday, presumably to undergo a physical."

From the article:

A clean bill of health would be the last hurdle standing between the Mariners and Orioles and one of the most significant trades in franchise history.

The Mariners would get left-handed starting pitcher Erik Bedard in exchange for five players, highlighted by Jones and left-handed reliever George Sherrill. The Mariners also would send three minor league pitchers to the Orioles to complete the deal.

Bedard would give the Mariners a top-of-the-rotation starting pitcher to complement burgeoning star Felix Hernandez. Bedard was 13-5 and struck out 221 batters in 182 innings last season, losing a month because of an oblique injury.

With the additions of Bedard and free-agent signee Carlos Silva, the Mariners will have replaced the bottom end of their rotation, Jeff Weaver and Horacio Ramirez, presumably giving them deeper and much stronger starting pitching.

Report: Bedard Is Seattle Bound

Mariners Blog via the Seattle Times reports Erik Bedard has been traded to the Mariners for a package built around star outfield prospect Adam Jones. From the article:

Adam Jones has left his Venezuelan Winter League team and flies to Baltimore tomorrow morning to take a physical so he can be dealt to the Orioles in exchange for pitcher Erik Berdard. No word yet on how many players going Baltimore's way.

Jones did not mince words when he spoke to a reporter from Diario Panorama in Venezuela today. We have a relationship with the reporter and paper and they have graciously supplied us with quotes from the interview with Jones.

"I received a call from Seattle saying that is no more playing for me and I can't do anything about that,'' Jones said. "I leave tomorrow morning..."

"(Bill Bavasi) called me yesterday and told me the news. I've got to go to Baltimore tomorrow morning and handle things there. I'm the centerpiece of the deal on the Mariners side. It's an honor to get traded for such a highly talented pitcher as Bedard is. He's one of the best. Last year he finished up as arguably one of the top candidates for the Cy Young. He's that good, so for me it's an honor. You know, I like Seattle, but if I am in Baltimore, as I think now I am, I'm going to embrace it and have the best time of my life in Major League Baseball."

Jones sounds like a good kid off the field, to go along with his all star caliber talent on the field. The article also mentioned George Sherrill, Seattle's talented lefthanded reliever. Sherrill also comes off well, though he has yet to be informed if he is involved in any potential deal.

Checklist:

Bedard out of AL East

Santana to the NL

Hughes, Joba & Co. open new stadium