As the Mariners-Orioles trade involving Erik Bedard became a twisted mess that only O’s owner Peter Angelos apparently can unravel with his approval, another interesting development occurred Tuesday.
The Twins reached a tentative agreement to trade pitcher Johan Santana, considered the biggest prize to be had this offseason, to the New York Mets.
In exchange for Santana, the Mets will send four prospects — an outfielder and three pitchers — to the Twins. Two of those players have had little more than limited major league experience, and by one account none of the pitchers is projected to become better than a back-of-rotation starter.
By contract, the Mariners’ offer to the Orioles for Bedard is said to be Adam Jones, one of baseball’s top prospects and the M’s projected right-field starter this year; George Sherrill, who was as good as any left-handed relief specialist last year; and minor league pitchers Chris Tillman, Kam Mickolio and Tony Butler, all considered major league-quality prospects. Norm Charlton, the Mariners’ new bullpen coach, raved about Tillman and Mickolio last year while working as a roaving minor league pitching instructor.
What this means is that Mariners GM Bill Bavasi was right last week when he said no other team has offered a trade package stronger that what the Mariners have done.
In all the drama of the past few days when the Bedard deal seemed on shakey ground after Jones spilled the beans to a reporter in Venezuela, there were reports that the Orioles may demand a stronger package from the Mariners, or that the trade might fall apart completely.
Considering the relative weakness of what the Twins are getting from the Mets, the Orioles would seem wise to take what the Mariners have offered. Granted, the Mets’ price will be steeper in what they’ll have to pay Santana in a new contract.
But in Jones, Sherrill and three decent pitching prospects, it seems the Orioles will do quite well in exchange for Bedard.
Will the deal go through? The Mariners remain confident it will.
When? Give it time. Angelos still needs to give his approval and then physical exams need to be performed on all the players involved. In a best-case scenario, it could happen Friday. But, like everything else with this trade, which has had its ups and downs since early December, it’s wise to be patient and let things work themselves out.
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