As Wednesday headed toward Thursday, it seemed the Mariners and Orioles weren’t any closer to wrapping up their trade. Erik Bedard, the pitcher who would come to the Mariners, remained at home in eastern Canada waiting for the go-ahead to fly to Seattle for a physical exam.
Meanwhile, everyone connected with this trade — the front offices, the players, the fans — waited through another day wondering when it’s going to be finished. It all seems so unnecessary.
I’ve asked some of my baseball connections what possibly could be the reason for the delay, and every answer goes back to the same person: Orioles owner Peter Angelos. He’s a stickler for details, especially in sorting through medical exams on the players he’s getting through trades and signings. A process that takes a few hours with many teams often takes days with the Orioles and, as far as anyone knows, the O’s are simply taking a lot of time to evaluate the exams of George Sherrill and Adam Jones.
Sherril can’t comment about the trade, but when I visited with him Tuesday in Peoria, Ariz., it seemed clear he was tired of the long process. Unlike Sherrill, Jones didn’t return to the Mariners’ spring training facility to continue his offseason workouts. Word is that Jones is physically and mentally worn out.
Who could blame him?
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