Published: Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Mariners add infielder Cairo, get deadline on Bedard
On the day they added veteran Miguel Cairo to help their bench, the Seattle Mariners may have gotten a deadline in their trade efforts for Baltimore Orioles pitcher Erik Bedard.
Orioles president Andy MacPhail told the Baltimore Sun that recent talks with teams have not progressed and that if a deal isn't made by the end of this month, he'll look at free agency.
The Orioles are in a rebuilding mode and see an opportunity to obtain young prospects in return for Bedard. The asking price from the Mariners has been outfielder Adam Jones, pitcher Brandon Morrow and catcher Jeff Clement, among others.
Mariners general manager Bill Bavasi, who is reluctant to trade Morrow, said Tuesday night that he still hopes to obtain a starter.
"We're still pursuing," he said. "It's a slow market because it's thin."
MacPhail, who last month said Bedard would remain with the Orioles but left the door open to a trade, says he now has a timetable.
"We have some needs we have to fill and there are still options available to fill them," he told The Sun. "But we don't want some of those options to evaporate… There will come a time where we will have to look to other options to fill our needs. I would say certainly by the last week of January."
Besides the Mariners, the Reds also have shown interest in Bedard, but they're reluctant to trade away outfield prospect Jay Bruce.
As they worked to gain a starter, the Mariners signed the 33-year-old Cairo to a one-year contract. Cairo, who can play all four infield positions, played 54 games last year for the Yankees and 28 for the Cardinals.
Cairo also may serve as motivation for second baseman Jose Lopez, who Bavasi said needs to improve his consistency.
"Miguel can challenge (for a starting job), but more important we're trying to guard against injury," Bavasi said. "Clubs rarely get through a season all the way completely healthy. It's good to have a veteran guy in that role."
Orioles president Andy MacPhail told the Baltimore Sun that recent talks with teams have not progressed and that if a deal isn't made by the end of this month, he'll look at free agency.
The Orioles are in a rebuilding mode and see an opportunity to obtain young prospects in return for Bedard. The asking price from the Mariners has been outfielder Adam Jones, pitcher Brandon Morrow and catcher Jeff Clement, among others.
Mariners general manager Bill Bavasi, who is reluctant to trade Morrow, said Tuesday night that he still hopes to obtain a starter.
"We're still pursuing," he said. "It's a slow market because it's thin."
MacPhail, who last month said Bedard would remain with the Orioles but left the door open to a trade, says he now has a timetable.
"We have some needs we have to fill and there are still options available to fill them," he told The Sun. "But we don't want some of those options to evaporate… There will come a time where we will have to look to other options to fill our needs. I would say certainly by the last week of January."
Besides the Mariners, the Reds also have shown interest in Bedard, but they're reluctant to trade away outfield prospect Jay Bruce.
As they worked to gain a starter, the Mariners signed the 33-year-old Cairo to a one-year contract. Cairo, who can play all four infield positions, played 54 games last year for the Yankees and 28 for the Cardinals.
Cairo also may serve as motivation for second baseman Jose Lopez, who Bavasi said needs to improve his consistency.
"Miguel can challenge (for a starting job), but more important we're trying to guard against injury," Bavasi said. "Clubs rarely get through a season all the way completely healthy. It's good to have a veteran guy in that role."
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