January 27, 2008
Reading the Tea Leaves
Adam Jones is not in the lineup tonight for his winter league game. This time, it really appears to be the sign that Jones is headed to Baltimore:
Jones did not mince words when he spoke to a reporter from Diario Panorama in Venezuela today. We have a relationship with the reporter and paper and they have graciously supplied us with quotes from the interview with Jones.
"I received a call from Seattle saying that is no more playing for me and I can't do anything about that,'' Jones said. "I leave tomorrow morning...It sucks. I want to play. This is Game 4 of the finals and I really want to be there for my team, but it's something that all the guys understand. I really want to play, but I can't."
On the actual deal itself: "(Bill Bavasi) called me yesterday and told me the news. I've got to go to Baltimore tomorrow morning and handle things there. I'm the centerpiece of the deal on the Mariners side. It's an honor to get traded for such a highly talented pitcher as Bedard is. He's one of the best. Last year he finished up as arguably one of the top candidates for the Cy Young. He's that good, so for me it's an honor. You know, I like Seattle, but if I am in Baltimore, as I think now I am, I'm going to embrace it and have the best time of my life in Major League Baseball."
Thanks to the readers who pointed out these two stories. Bedard gives the Mariners a top notch front of the rotation starter, and I suspect Bedard-Hernandez-Washburn to make the Mariners one of the top rotations in the AL this season. Of course, this leaves a hole in the outfield. However, it's easier to fill that hole than find a number one starter.
Update: MacPhail denies the report:
Orioles president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail said tonight that the club has not agreed to trade ace pitcher Erik Bedard to the Seattle Mariners for a package headed by young center fielder Adam Jones, despite reports that a deal is done.
"We do not have an agreement with the Mariners," MacPhail said.
Either Jones is playing with a reporter, or MacPhail is sticking to a strict line that they don't have a deal until the physical is passed.
Posted by David Pinto at
07:49 PM
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Brad Wilkerson might fill that hole for 2008.
As an O's fan I dying to know who the other pieces are. Sherrill has been long rumored, but according to Baker, Sherrill had not been notified yet.
If the O's somehow manage to get, in addition to Jones one of Jeff Clement or Carlos Triunfel, I'll be pretty happy.
Felix and Bedard, good. Washburn, not so much. ERA+ of 95 and 100 the last couple years. I guess with an above-average 1 and 2, all you need is an average 3 to still be among the best. But somehow, I see another below-average season for Washburn. the peripherals just aren't there. This should be Felix' big year I think.
