Never trade away the possible future of your team
The following players were traded in exchange for Erik Bedard: Adam Jones, George Sherrill, Tony Butler, Chris Tillman, and Kameron Mickolio. Things went downhill for the Mariners this year. Usually when a team is bad, they usually have a wealth of talent in their farm systems, or at least one ground-breaking prospect.
Adam Jones and Chris Tillman were no doubt, the top prospects within the Mariners' system at the time. No matter how good you did the season before, a team should never give up the gold in their farm unless they're getting gold or even more gold in return. Which brings me to my next point..
Concerning MLB prospects, only trade a prospect unless you're getting more value in return
This value just doesn't come in the form of their statistics the year before, or their strikeouts per inning rate. INJURY HISTORY! An MLB player, especially an injury-prone picture should raise red flags to a general manager. In the minors, Bedard had an elbow ligament injury which set him back 18 months.
- B/R Ticket Guide
Toward the end of the 2007 season, an MRI confirmed that Bedard had suffered a strained oblique. You don't trade for damaged goods, especially if you there is any uncertainty those damaged goods will return to their original condition. I'm not an injury expert, but when a guy ends his season with an injury, that's should be significant. Which brings me to my next point...
Bill Bavasi is an Idiot
WHY THE HELL WOULD YOU TRADE FOR A PITCHER THAT ENDED THE SEASON WITH AN INJURY. Not only that, you gave up THE TOP PROSPECT IN THE AMERICAN LEAGUE!
So...what now?
I'm not going to try to hate on Erik Bedard for getting injured and all, this season was probably the worst of the poor guy's career. Erik Bedard is one of the most talented pitchers in the major leagues.
However, that talent can't be used effectively if he's on the disabled list. He'll be unable to pitch until the middle of next season and that's a big IF. His future in Mariner will be in question and only the newly-hired GM will decide if he'll be part of the rebuilding project. I highly doubt that. Chances are, the next time Erik Bedard pitches, it won't be in a Mariners' uniform.
Post your angry related Erik Bedard comments below...
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about 1 month ago
Sad but true, Kevin...
It seems obvious that Bavasi was just trying to make a big splash and save his job. He obviously was desperate to get Bedard and give the impression that the Mariners were contending, and the Orioles took advantage of that by fleecing the Mariners of their best prospects. It makes no sense that Bedard was traded for better prospects than Johan Santana.
about 1 month ago
In my mind, Erik Bedard and the Seattle Mariners are stuck with each other. The Mariners won't be able to trade him next year before his contract is up. Do you really think the Mariners are going to just release him after the 2009 season?
The entire MLB has learned more about Erik Bedard this year then they did then his previous 6 years with the Orioles. Do you really think any team is willing to give him a long term contract that he will be asking? And besides the 5 months he pitched last season, what has he really proved in the big leagues? That he is a 99 pitch count ace, who spends more time on the DL then on the mound each year of his career and gives the media such a hard time?
This will haunt him for the rest of his career and life. The pitcher who let down the Seattle Mariners after they gave up their future for him. Look where they're at now.
The last hope they have with him is going to be after the surgery. It's either positive or negitive. I say just let him work his way back to a healthy status. Let him keep pitching in a Mariners uniform and hope that somehow he can be apart of their winning team in the future. I know it sounds crazy but what other options are there?
from about 1 month ago
I'll keep on dreaming of this rotation:
Felix Hernandez
Erik Bedard
Brandon Morrow
Ryan Rowland-Smith
Carlos Silva
..................................
about 1 month ago
Kevin, great article..Good work as always.
That trade was absolutely brutal..Adam Jones would look great in a Mariners uni, and that rotation you have listed above is pretty tantalizing.
about 1 month ago
Tell me what you think about my playoff predictions: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/64040-the-complete-2008-divisional-series-playoff-preview
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