If Bedard were to help the Mariners to a division title this year, how far would it go towards redeeming that trade? What would he have to do for Mariner fans to consider that trade even? A pennant? A World series win? Multiple?

If Bedard were to help the Mariners to a division title this year, how far would it go towards redeeming that trade? What would he have to do for Mariner fans to consider that trade even? A pennant? A World series win? Multiple?

Can't be done. He's a free agent now - the trade's in the books.

Nice signing, though.

Yes, but if not for the trade, he probably wouldn't be available to the M's.

Kind of like the Cardinals and Holliday. Yeah, they only traded for a 1/2 season of him, but they wouldn't have signed him as a FA if they didn't.

Yes, but if not for the trade, he probably wouldn't be available to the M's.

We're like three weeks out from spring training. I think he's just happy to get a semi-reasonable offer at this point, regardless of the destination.

Unless you're trying to suggest that he would've had a better year in 2009, and thus been positioned for a more lucrative deal, if not for the trade. Which is fine, but a little meta.

How can Bedard only get $1.5M guaranteed while Sheets gets like $8M?

Is there that much difference in their health status?

A healthy Bedard would make the Mariners a scary matchup for any team in the playoffs. Felix, Lee, and Bedard could be scary good.

Sheets getting $8M seems absurd, but I believe there were rumblings that the A's spent that money to avoid having MLB lay a Marlins-like smackdown on them.

Sheets getting $8M seems absurd, but I believe there were rumblings that the A's spent that money to avoid having MLB lay a Marlins-like smackdown on them.

Couldn't they have given Sheets and Bedard ~$5M each, and achieved the same thing?

I'll be bummed if the Orioles don't get him. Not that I think there's a great chance of Bedard returning to form, but it would have been nice to have him back.

re Sheets vs. Bedard -- I think the A's paid way too much for Sheets, but I think he's probably less of a risk at this point. Bedard hurt his shoulder, not his elbow, and there's just no way to know if he'll ever be close to 100% effective again.

re Sheets vs. Bedard -- I think the A's paid way too much for Sheets, but I think he's probably less of a risk at this point. Bedard hurt his shoulder, not his elbow, and there's just no way to know if he'll ever be close to 100% effective again.

Maybe, but if you're rolling the dice, I'd rather do it with $1.5M than $8M. I doubt Bedard is less than 20% as likely to be effective as Sheets.

Yeah, nice 'scorched earth' move by Bavasi on his way out the door. I never really went back and thought about that deal after the fact; not only was Adam Jones Adam Jones, and Tillman on the way, but Sherrill turned into Bell. That's a pretty phenomenal fleecing.

Based on the rumors, it sounds like Bedard has been talking mostly to the Mariners and Orioles, so maybe he just has no interest in the A's or any other team.

Bedard will be out until at least June, but probably until July. Sheets will (assuming he doesn't get injured again) be ready for spring training. Signing a guy who won't be ready until midseason leaves you open to a circumstance like what happened to Sheets last season, where he was never able to pitch at all.


Also, I hope this isn't the last move the M's make. I think they could still use another pitcher (well, really they could use a good hitter but they don't seem to have left themselves the roster room for one, so I'll settle for 1 more pitcher). They look good so far but they still aren't necessarily a good bet to win 90 games.

I think Pedro would be a great fit for the Mariners.

How can Bedard only get $1.5M guaranteed while Sheets gets like $8M?

Is there that much difference in their health status?


Labrum injuries are pretty nasty.

Plus Sheets is pitching on one year's rest. And is supposedly ready by opening day. Bedard may not be ready til after the ASG.

I doubt Bedard is less than 20% as likely to be effective as Sheets.

Based on what?

From TFA:

At last week's spring-training luncheon, M's trainer Rick Griffin said Bedard "is playing catch and says he feels very good. ... When he had his surgery, Dr. Yocum said it was a 10- to 12-month process, and he's at about seven months now. He has a ways to go, but he's working and rehabbing."

That timetable would clearly not allow Bedard to be ready for the start of the season. He told The (Tacoma) News Tribune he believes he's on pace to return sometime in May, but others in baseball believe a return in either June or even July is more realistic.

A torn labrum is traditionally one of the hardest injuries for a pitcher to come back from. Among those who have been unable to do so are Mark Prior, Jason Schmidt, Matt Clement, Scott Elarton and Bartolo Colon.

Let's get Bedarded in here!

A torn labrum is traditionally one of the hardest injuries for a pitcher to come back from. Among those who have been unable to do so are Mark Prior, Jason Schmidt, Matt Clement, Scott Elarton and Bartolo Colon.

Mike Sirotka's injury was the first time I'd heard of a labrum.

I see no reason to think we have the information to compare Bedard and Sheets, and critique clubs' decisions about them. The entirety of their projected value is tied up in their medical reports, which we have never seen.

By far the best evidence that we have about the likely effectiveness of Bedard and Sheets next year are the contracts which they have been offered by teams which have read their medical reports.

Mike Sirotka's injury was the first time I'd heard of a labrum.

First time for Gord Ash too.

2 Mike Sirotka sightings in the same day. Must be some sort of record.