Still Waiting

The Erik Bedard saga seems to have no end. According to John Hickey of the Seattle PI, this trade most likely won't be finalized untill Friday at the earliest. Bedard is still believed to be at his home in Ottawa, Ontario (Canada) and won't travel to Seattle for his physical untill Thursday. With his physical potentially on Thursday, an announcement won't come untill Thursday evening or Friday. No word or words yet on how Adam Jones and George Sherrill's physicals went. Has a trade taken this long in any sport?

According to the Baltimore Examiner, today was the target day for the Orioles to try and get this trade finished. This is a very slow process.

Spring Training Watch: Brandon Morrow

Next up in our Spring Training Watch series, is Brandon Morrow.

Brandon Morrow was the Mariners' first round pick, fifth overall, in the 2006 Amateur Entry Draft. He made the team out of Spring Training, after proving that he had something to offer. He quickly became a force in the Mariners' bullpen, mainly as a set-up man to closer JJ Putz. His 4.12 ERA isn't a great number, but as a rookie pitching in 63.1 innings with no prior professional expeirence (3IP in A don't really count), that's not too bad. His other numbers are what made him one of the better relievers. Although Morrow isn't amazing at keeping runners off base, his 56 hits and 50 walks weren't too good (in 63.3IP), but he only had a 0.43 HR/9IP, and a pretty good 9.38K/9IP. His total of 66 K's was a very impressive number. His 3-4 record isn't too bad, but isn't usually the most important stat for a reliever. Now that he has got a full season on his resume, I don't think that it's too important to note his minor league stats. But by looking at his stats on the above link, thanks to The Baseball Cube, for the most part his minor PAC 10, and minor league inning or two or three, his stats have basically continued.

As I mentioned, Morrow was the Mariners' set-up man last season. This year, it was said that he might be competing for the number five job, but now that the Mariners have almost completed a trade for Erik Bedard, he will either be back as a set-up man to Putz, or be a starter with the Rainiers (AAA). I'd say that part of what will determine Morrow's fate will be what Mark Lowe does (Lowe's Spring Training Watch page can be viewed here). Morrow's rookie season shouldn't be considered a fluke, unless he actually does suck. He could be a big factor in the Mariners' bullpen this season. Keep an eye on him.

Erik Bedard Trade Might be Almost Done

Your daily update of Erik Bedard rumors. It's amazing that everyday, we get the same stuff being repeated by different people. Today isn't really any different.

Jeff Zrebiac of the Baltimore Sun says that the two teams have agreed to the framework of the trade. He says that according to his sources, there will be five players headed to Baltimore. He also says that the deal isn't official yet, mainly because the physicals have not been taken.

Roch Kubatko of the Baltimore Sun says that Bedard was expected to take his physical today, also saying that this deal is almost done.

The Baltimore Sun now says that Erik Bedard has not taken his physical. The same newspaper can't agree with itself, or, it keeps bsing misinformed. Apparently, Bedard is still at his home in Ontario.

John Hickey of the Seattle PI also agrees that the Bedard trade is almost done.

Erik Bedard Trade Almost Done, For REAL

It's getting close to the end of this saga, as the Mariners quest for an ace pitcher is almost complete. But not according to an article on the Baltimore Sun that was posted earlier today. This article says that no one has taken their physicals yet. It seems that nobody on the Oriole side of this trade thinks that players are or have taken physicals. The Sun then makes a 180, and says that the trade is pending physicals, and Adam Jones is heading to Baltimore to take his.

Geoff Baker checks in with us, sort of confirming Jones going to Baltimore to take his physical, and also saying that the rumors that had Brian Roberts added into the deal aren't true. I don't think that many people thought that they were true in the first place.

Geoff Baker also says that George Sherrill is in Baltimore to take a physical, and Chris Tillman is in the deal. He now confirms that Jones and Sherrill have taken physicals in Baltimore.

Sean Welsh of the Baltimore Examiner says that this trade won't be finalized today, but should be soon.

Finally this trade is coming to a close. I may need to start up something new on this blog, because there won't be many rumors come Spring Training. Only 12+ days untill Erik Bedard, the other pitchers, and catchers report.

AJ in Baltimore?

John Hickey of the Seattle PI has some interesting news on the Erik Bedard trade.

Mariners outfielder Adam Jones traveled to Baltimore on Sunday, a source said, presumably to undergo a physical examination that originally was scheduled for Jan. 29.

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.

It looks like this deal may be nearing completion soon.

Odds and Ends

A few minor notes from this evening.

• The Chicago Sun-Times is reporting that the Mariners have interest in Bartolo Colon. I don't see this happening, expecially if the Mariners eventually complete an Erik Bedard trade.


• Mariners bullpen coach Norm Charlton believes that Mike Hargrove burned out his bullpen to try and get a contract extension. For those of you who don't know, Hargrove resigned at the All-Star Break and was replaced by John MacLaren.


• Baseball America has their Top 10 Prospects and other things for the Mariners.

Spring Training Watch: Mark Lowe

Next up in our Spring Training Watch series, is Mark Lowe. The last two that I've done have been position players, so I thought I'd do a pitcher this time.

Lowe has been an amazing prospect at one time, to landing on the DL for three months. He is ranked as the number eight prospect in the Mariners' system by Baseball America. The only problem is, is that he can't stay healthy for more then five minutes. He has a tremendous arm, but hasn't been able to show it off during the last few years.

In 2007, Lowe only managed to pitch 12.2 innings, but managed 64.2 innings in 2006. His 103.2 IP in 2005 tell you that something is happening. I'm not really sure if Lowe had been doing any starting during the last few years, but is usually a set-up man. As a reliever, over 60 innings is pretty good, but cutting his IP total by forty from the year before, could mean that he switched from starting to relieving. That's all fine and good, what type of pitcher only gets 12 IP, and is healthy? Not many.

In Lowe's 21.1 innings in the bigs he has looked good. His 2006 was pretty good in the Bigs. In 18.2 IP, he put up a 1.93 ERA and 20 K's, with only 8 BB. You can't really consider his 2.2 IP in 2007. I see Lowe as one of the two; starting with the Rainers (AAA) in the back end of the rotation building up his arm strength and getting some healthy innings under his belt, or in the set-up role for the Mariners. Maybe in more of an eight inning role depening on the Erik Bedard situation, which probably will determine the Brandon Morrow situation, could be a possibility.

Morrow has all of the tools, and definitely the potential to be a top MLB pitcher. If Lowe shows up this Spring healthy, then he should be in line for a gig with the big club, if, he's healthy.

Stone Update

Larry Stone of the Seattle Times has a bit of an update for us. The big quote from this:

Put down your phone, Sam Presti. 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 points out how the Orioles have brought Bedard up for the Mariners.

The Orioles endured his serious injury stage (reconstructive elbow surgery in 2002), his rehab stage (a grand total of 20 innings pitched in 2003, all in the low minors), his learning-the-ropes stage (a 12-18 record in 50 major-league starts in 2004-05), and his blossoming stage (15 wins in 2006, a franchise-record 221 strikeouts in '07).

The Orioles are getting "a mother lode of talent in return". The believed package of Adam Jones, George Sherrill, Chris Tillman, Kam Mickolio, and Tony Butler is considered to be better than the package the Twins recieved for Johan Santana. I hope that Bavasi knows what he is doing, and gets Bedard signed long term. Bedard is only looking for about $8.5M in '08, so looking him up for five to six years and say, $10-15M a season would be a bargain. Who else is ready for this to end?

PECOTA's Are Out

Over at USS Mariner, they have a few notes from the recently released PECOTA's.

Fun stuff. Random notes:* Bedard’s 2008 puts him at about +4 wins over a replacement pitcher, making him the 10th-most-valuable pitcher in baseball.* Jones’s 2008 puts him at about +2 wins over a replacement player, and his comps are not qhat I’d expected: Steve Hosey, Chet Lemon, Larry Hisle, and Jack Clark* Jones’ upside, which is a measure of his potential over the next five years, is 198. That’s the 19th-highest for hitters in all of baseball* All of baseball* It’s just behind BJ Upton and ahead of Curtis Granderson* Bedard’s is 232, the 7th-highest pitcher number, and just ahead of Felix.* Jones’ total contribution in 2008 is the highest of any Mariner hitter
Okay, I’ll stop with the Jones stuff. What else…hitters:* PECOTA still hates Ichiro. I look forward to the annual “you know, I think this year it might be right” post.* Clement comes off better than I thought he might* Sexson bounces, but not too high* Lopez’s line is ugly* Wilkerson’s at .232/.326/.420, a big step back from Guillen’s 2007* Vidro hits .282/.346/.373 which is even lower than I guessed at in the “Projecting the 2008 Mariners” post a week ago* Balentien’s line as a major leaguer is bad* Small steps back for Beltre, Johjima, Betancourt, Ibanez* Bloomquist is mercifully left off.

Not of an Erik Bedard Update

Larry Stone of the Seattle Times has sort of an update for us. I guess that it can't really be called an "official" update, but it is news.

A National League executive, asked late this week to assess the industry buzz on trade talks between the Mariners and Orioles, just laughed.
"The buzz in the industry is we're all scratching our heads," he said. "Nobody knows. There are no secrets in baseball, but this has gone on too long.

That's about as good as it gets for today. Stone has the usual stuff about the players involved, nobody has taken a phyical, that we know of. This has gone on too long.

Jones Passed Physical?

Bleeding Blue and Teal has some infoon the Mariners front of the Bedard trade. Their source from Orioles Hangout is telling them that Adam Jones has passed his physical, and we are now waiting for a press conference announcement. On the sites message board, there is someone posting under the name Belkast, who is known as an insider for Orioles info. Belkast posted:

Jones passed his physical, and we're waiting on the exact date and time of the press conference.
__________________
This post has been approved by my source. If in fact I have posted an opinion, it is by no way the view of my source, it is only my opinion.

I would have this as a confirmed, unconformed rumor at this time. I will be looking into this.

Poll: Who Will be the Mariners' Starting Right Fielder?

Our second poll here. This week's poll is: Who Will be the Mariners' Starting Right Fielder (in 2008)?

Brad Wilkerson
Wladimir Balentien
Adam Jones
Other

Keep the votes coming. I'd like to beat last week's record of 8 votes. I know it sounds sad, but it's a good start.

Spring Training Watch: Wladimir Balentien

The next player to watch during Spring Training, is Wladimir Balentien.

Balentien has been overlooked in the Mariners' system, because of Adam Jones. If Adam Jones is sent over to the Orioles in an Erik Bedard trade, then Balentien will likely be the top prospect in the Mariners' system.

Balentien has quickly climbed up the Minor Leagues the last few seasons. At 18, he put up
.283/.363/.658 with 16 HR and 52 RBI in 187 AB's in the Arizona Rookie League. At the young age of 19 he hit .277/.315/.519 in 260 AB's with Wisconson of the MidWest League (A). He jumped up to A+ to go .289/.357/.474 in 38 AB's. Not miraculous numbers, but still high quality. He spent his age 20 year in A+, but his numbers went up to .291/.338/.553 in 492 AB's, along with 25 HR and 93 RBI. He made the jump up to AA with San Antonio at age 21. He had a .230/.337/.435 line, but put up 22 HR and 82 RBI. His line looks very poor compared to the previous year, but his other stats are still in line. Wlad continued his climb getting 447 AB's with Tacoma (AAA) at age 22. He got his line back up to a solid .291/.362/.509 with 24 HR and 84 RBI. He got into three games in The Bigs (that same year) getting three at bats, getting two hits, and one home run. I wouldn't care too much about his MLB AB(s) but his minor league stats are solid, and should continue into his MLB career.

Wlad will only have Brad Wilkerson as competition this Spring. It's expected that these two will be in a platoon situation, but Wilkerson getting a few more AB's. I wouldn't be surprised to see Balentien starting at AAA in right field, but expect him to get some solid at bats, especially if Wilkerson tanks. He could also be put into the DH spot with Jose Vidro. Either way, he should be getting some serious playing time in 2008.

Bedard Deal Expected to be Completed Soon?

Jeff Zrebiac of the Baltimore Sun has some new info on the Bedard situation. Zrebiac says that the trade is expected to be resolved within the next week. The two teams have been attempting to clear up the issues that had come up earlier in the week. Adam Jones was supossed to have a physical Tuesday, but it was cancelled. It is believed that there is a written agreement between this two teams, that if Adam Jones and George Sherrill pass physicals, then the trade happens or something like that. Zrebiac still thinks that the players going for Bedard are Adam Jones, George Sherrill, Chris Tillman, Tony Butler and Kam Mickolio. Hopefully this will resolve soon.

Poll Results: Who is most likely to be in the Mariners' rotation come opening day?

Nice to see that there is a bit of interest gathering. Word is getting out I guess. Anyways, here are the results to the poll:

Erik Bedard 7=87%
Brandon Morrow 1=13%
Horocio Ramirez 0=0%
Bartolo Colon 0=0%

Looks to be about what I expected. As I had stated previously, I'm probably going to be making this a weekly feature. Any ideas for polls?