In the wake of pitchers and catchers reporting for spring training, rumors have been muddling that the Mariners are on the verge of re-signing starting pitcher Erik Bedard.
Reports are suggesting Bedard would sign on for one-year earning $1.5 million plus incentives, which is pretty appealing for both sides.
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Ever since the M’s traded for Bedard in the offseason of 2007, fans have grimaced at the successes of gold-glover Adam Jones and All-Star George Sherrill, all while putting up with the feebleness in performance we received in return (thanks again, Bill Bavasi).
Not to mention the lack of effort and insubordinate attitude he provided in the clubhouse, the Mariners would have been better off (most starts, at least) throwing a left-handed 14-year-old in place of Erik Bedard.
Bedard missed most of the 2009 season with a shoulder injury that inevitably led him to major reconstructive surgery in July. Since then, he’s been vehemently rehabbing and has made significant progress in recovery, yet still won’t be eligible to throw until at least May. Some are speculating that Bedard may not be completely healthy until after the All-Star break in July.
Despite his lack of effort and withdrawing sufficient stats, you have to like this signing if it goes down. For a growing payroll that has already been allocated more efficiently than it has in the past five to ten years, $1.5 million is not the biggest dent in the world.
Not to mention that an incentive-laden deal is exactly what this kind of pitcher needs. Chances are, we won’t see him ducking out of games after pitching 5 innings or less when there’s an extra couple grand waiting for him at the end of the game.
In order for this to work to its potential, there are a number of factors that need to fall into place. Primarily, Bedard needs an attitude adjustment.
Reports have indicated that Bedard has pulled himself out of past starts because of teams he doesn’t want to face, or he was simply unmotivated to complete games. This might have been due to the poor management the M’s endured in recent years, which in turn led us to an overall losing team.
Given the fact that the Mariners have had the best offseason in the league, bringing back Bedard and putting him in a winning rotation might actually drive him to a winner’s attitude in return.
The next big factor is health. Most pitchers struggle returning from similar surgeries that Bedard has undergone, so expectations can’t be too high. But, again, it’s only 1.5, and this organization has puddled away much, much more than that in past seasons. Therefore, if Erik comes back and returns to his mid-season Mariners form, then he’s a sunk cost and we move on.
If Bedard comes back with his semi-powering fastball and phenomenal curve, the Mariners will have one of the best rotations suited for the postseason (Felix, Lee, Bedard, and then go back to Felix in Game 4). We have to make it to the postseason first, though. Is it Opening Day yet?
Reach Jacob Kehle at nextseasonsports@gmail.com
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