[新聞] O's prefer Bedard extension over trade
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BALTIMORE -- For all the temptation to trade Erik Bedard, there may yet be an
even greater pull for the Orioles to keep him.
Orioles president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail won't trade Bedard
without first determining what it would take to sign him to a contract
extension, according to a report published on Thursday in the Baltimore Sun.
MacPhail is set to begin conversations with Bedard's agent before next
month's Winter Meetings begin.
"Young left-handed starters don't grow on trees," MacPhail told the Sun.
"Especially ones that are potentially dominant, as Erik has been."
Bedard, 28, finished the 2007 season with a 13-5 record, a 3.16 ERA and 221
strikeouts despite missing an entire month with a strained right oblique. His
current contract runs through 2009, and an extension would require the
Orioles to offer significantly more money per year than the $3.4 million
Bedard made in 2007.
That's not even the most vexing problem. Should the Orioles lock up Bedard,
they would forgo an opportunity to trade him during an offseason in which the
free-agent class is noticeably weak. For a player such as Bedard -- who has
no peer in this year's free-agent class -- the Orioles could command up to
three Major League-ready prospects.
Teams looking to acquire elite pitching this offseason have turned away from
the open market, where starters such as Kyle Lohse and Carlos Silva figure to
command contracts disproportionate to past performance. Instead, general
managers are looking toward the trade market, where the hottest rumors have
involved names such as Johan Santana, Dan Haren, and -- of course -- Bedard.
MacPhail knows that, and he discussed the possibility of a trade with several
teams at this month's General Managers Meetings. The Yankees, Mets, Angels
and Dodgers are all reportedly interested.
The Baltimore Sun named the Dodgers as the most aggressive bidder, citing a
package that could include outfielder Matt Kemp, reliever Jonathan Broxton
and Minor League starter Clayton Kershaw. Kemp and Broxton, both 23, have
enjoyed marked success in the Majors over the past two seasons, while
Kershaw, 19, is largely considered one of the top starting pitching prospects
in the game.
That's the good news. But regardless of the talent received, any trade would
almost certainly hinder Baltimore's chances to contend in the immediate
future. Bedard is widely regarded as the best Orioles pitcher since Mike
Mussina, and his absence would leave the team without an ace. The Orioles
floundered once Bedard strained his oblique in August, having won 12 straight
games that he started prior to the injury.
As late as mid-August, Bedard was considered a legitimate American League Cy
Young Award contender.
"Earlier in the year, we had to answer the question about whether he was a
bona fide No. 1," Orioles manager Dave Trembley said just before the injury.
"Every time he goes out there, he just adds more and more credence to that.
The guy's very special."
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