losgigantes
HALL OF FAME POSTER
Registered: 12-2007
Location: South Bay
Posts: 1935
|
|
Reply | Quote
|
|
Orioles trade Bedard to Mariners for five prospects
Orioles trade Bedard to Mariners for five prospects
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3237189
BALTIMORE -- Left-hander Erik Bedard was acquired by the Seattle Mariners from the Baltimore Orioles on Friday in a long-delayed trade for five prospects.
Baltimore received outfielder Adam Jones, who will probably start in center field on Opening Day. The Orioles also obtained reliever George Sherrill and pitchers Chris Tillman, Tony Butler and Kam Mickolio.
Bedard, Baltimore's Opening Day starter last year, joins a rotation that includes newly signed Carlos Silva and holdovers Felix Hernandez, Jarrod Washburn and Miguel Batista.
The departure of Bedard is yet another move to youth by the Orioles under president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail. Shortstop Miguel Tejada, a former AL MVP, was traded to Houston on Dec. 12.
With Bedard gone, Baltimore does not have an ace or even someone that's a lock to pitch on Opening Day. Jeremy Guthrie and Adam Loewen are the top candidates, and Daniel Cabrera might be given consideration.
Baltimore had failed to reach an agreement on a contract extension with Bedard, who can become a free agent after the 2009 season. He went 13-5 with a 3.16 ERA last season and set a franchise record with 221 strikeouts. Opponents batted .212 against Bedard, including an AL-low .196 on the road.
Jones told a reporter in Venezuela on Jan. 27 he was headed to Baltimore to take a physical, signaling that a trade was in the works. But that physical did not occur until this week.
The 28-year-old Bedard ranked among the AL leaders in several pitching categories before a rib injury ended his season in late August. He was leading the league in strikeouts at the time and, although he finished third, his average of 10.93 strikeouts per nine innings was tops in the AL and an Orioles record.
Jones, 22, was Seattle's top pick in the 2003 amateur draft. He batted .246 in 41 games with the Mariners last season and hit .314 with 25 home runs and 84 RBIs for Triple-A Tacoma. He began his career in 2006 with an 0-for-12 drought that ended in Baltimore on July 18, when he got his first major-league hit.
Sherrill went 2-0 with a 2.36 ERA and three saves in seven opportunities in 2007. He will probably be given a look as the closer for Chris Ray, expected to miss the season after elbow ligament replacement surgery on Aug. 16.
Tillman, 19, was Seattle's minor-league pitcher of the year in 2007. Neither Tillman, Butler or Mickolio were on the Mariners' 0-man roster.
Last edited by losgigantes, 2/8/2008, 5:39 pm
---
Mr. President, we must not allow a mineshaft gap!!!
|
|
2/8/2008, 5:37 pm
|
Link to this post
|
barrance
MOST VALUABLE POSTER
Registered: 07-2007
Posts: 859
|
|
Reply | Quote
|
|
…
Hey Brute, or anyone else for that matter, how does the O's haul compare to what the A's got for Haren. Just curious...
|
|
2/8/2008, 5:50 pm
|
Link to this post
|
BruteSentiment
HALL OF FAME POSTER
Registered: 10-2006
Location: Bay Area
Posts: 2050
|
|
Reply | Quote
|
|
Re: Orioles trade Bedard to Mariners for five prospects
Jones is a stud, pure and simple.
George Sherrill is a solid reliever. His career numbers are better in the minors, but he's only had one real good year in the majors. But that was last year, so he's on good terms. He got a late start, playing several years in the indy leagues before making the pros. He should be a solid contributor right away.
Chris Tillman, 20, could be a star. The RHP was rated #3 in the M's system this year and was the '07 M's Minor League Pitcher of the Year. But on the other hand, he got shellacked in High Desert (even if he was a teen). 91-94 MPH Fastball, big curve, but is a little bit away from a changeup. He's a lot of potential, but the production is not there yet.
Tony Butler, also 20, is a lefty with some potential. He's a young arm who began peaking in the mid-90's just before he was drafted in high school. Like Tillman, he's got a big curve (probably better than Tillman's) and a developing change. But his fastball isn't as good. His main goal needs to be endurance before anything else, though.
Kam Mickolio is notable for being the best name in the trade. Seriously, though, he was a 2006 draftee in the 18th round, and in 2007 he was in Triple-A. He's a power sinkerballer (92-97 MPH)...but with little else. He can get under the sinker with his low arm angle, and needs a better pitch (like a changeup) against left handed hitters. The lack of pitches makes him a relief candidate, but the sinker is enough for a one-inning reliever. At 23, he's not a high ceiling prospect, but BA calls him 'A Scouting Success.'
This is an very, very good haul for the Orioles. Jones is a legitimate top prospect. Tillman and Butler have high potential, even if they're a long way away. Sherrill is productive, if not young and cheap. Mickolio could be productive as well. The Orioles should be very happy. The Mariners still have a few elite prospects, including pitcher Phillippe Aumont. But the team lost a lot of pitching depth, and their top prospect is completely blocked (Jeff Clement, by catcher Kenji Johijma; the M's also have a good catching prospect in Adam Moore behind Clement. He could play first, but Sexson is entrenched, and Mike Morse is a more established replacement).
I'd still love to see the Giants try to pry Clement away somehow, but Lowry is not going to do it. Bedard will pair well with Hernandez up top of their rotation, and push the rest of the guys back. While Jarrod Washburn, Miguel Batista and Carlos Silva are not championship material, they aren't the ones screaming for replacing. If the Mariners can find a way to compete this season, maybe they will. But that is unlikely.
I'm not afraid to dream about refilling the M's pitching depth with the Giants excesses in that area. I'd send them Misch, a major league ready reliever, maybe starter, Sosa, a high potential but far-off guy, and maybe one of the Augusta four... but I'd also be the first to admit that's unrealistic.
On the other hand...suddenly the M's starting right fielder is Brad Wilkerson. The other in-house options include a converted first baseman who is damned bad in the outfield (and should be forcing Sexson out of a job), a couple of AAAA players, and Wladimir Balentien. Balentien is a premier power prospect, but some aren't sure if he's quite ready. He slumped badly at the end of last season (though some believe it's because of a hand injury), and gets criticized for lackadaisial play.
If Balentien is not quite ready at the end of spring training, there might be a move here. Fred Lewis isn't a star, but some may like his potential. He could be a fill-in, and possibly a longer-term fit as Raul Ibanez is in his walk year, and at 36 may move to a DH role anyway (if Vidro takes second back), making room for both Lewis and Balentien down the line. Along with a bullpen in shambles (Especially with Sherrill and Mickolio gone), a Lewis/Sanchez/Misch type of a package might be worth it to the M's to trade a blocked Clement.
Still probably dreaming.
Last edited by BruteSentiment, 2/9/2008, 4:09 am
---
SFDugout.com - It's back! Top 50 Giants Prospects currently running!
|
|
2/9/2008, 3:54 am
|
Link to this post
|
losgigantes
HALL OF FAME POSTER
Registered: 12-2007
Location: South Bay
Posts: 1935
|
|
Reply | Quote
|
|
…
fack me I would love to get a haul like that. Just get us a stud position play or two... pllllleeeaaasseee?
---
Mr. President, we must not allow a mineshaft gap!!!
|
|
2/9/2008, 10:43 am
|
Link to this post
|
Xellos007
HALL OF FAME POSTER
Registered: 10-2006
Posts: 1418
|
|
Reply | Quote
|
|
…
i would have given up Lincecum+Sanchez for that deal. Mariners are going to regret this deal in 2 years when Bedard wants 17-20mil a year over a 6-7yr contract.
|
|
2/9/2008, 12:50 pm
|
Link to this post
|
 QUICK REPLY
You are not logged in ( login)
|
