Bedard Rumors...Again

by Snake Plissken on Dec 18, 2007 8:45 PM CST

From mlbtraderumors.com (Yeah, I know

"Cubs Interested In Bedard?

With the volume of rumors that flew around during the Winter Meetings, it's easy to get confused. Luckily MLBTR has archives of everything. That's how we were able to research the Cubs' alleged interest in Erik Bedard.

It started on December 4th with Joel Sherman saying the Cubs were part of a pool competing for Bedard that contained 8-10 teams. Then three days later, Bruce Miles reported that Bedard was "not on the Cubs' radar screen."

The latest, per an uncredited blurb on ESPN Rumor Central: "In recent days, the Cubs let their interest be known." The blurb also references the Seattle PI, perhaps this article, but there's no Cubs reference there.

Anyway, it makes sense that Jim Hendry and Andy MacPhail would at least have a high-level Bedard discussion. The Cubs need a pitcher like him, they've liked him before, and they do have some decent young talent."

Links:

http://blogs.nypost.com/sports/wm/archives/2007/12/bedard_long_sho.html#more

http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=90989&src=152

http://insider.espn.go.com/mlb/features/rumors?&action=login&appRedirect=http%3a%2f%2finside r.espn.go.com%2fmlb%2ffeatures%2frumors

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/baseball/343751_mari16.html

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2007/12/cubs-interest-1.html

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, managing editor (unless it's a FanPost posted by Al). FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.

Tweet Comment 23 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Apparently...

... Kaplan said something tonight about Roberts. I missed it.

Did anyone catch what was said?

This is who I think the Cubs #1 should be...

by initram on Dec 18, 2007 8:40 PM CST reply actions

Ya

Kaplan had a writer on from the Baltimore Sun. His perspective was that while the Cubs had good pieces to fit a trade Peter Angelos' man-crush on Brian Roberts was likely to thwart any kind of trade.

DmL

by dmlichte on Dec 18, 2007 10:13 PM CST up reply actions

Isn't it likely

it was about him admitting he used steroids today?

"It's a long fly to left field. And there it goes. Ahhh crap." -- Harry Caray

by cubz1963 on Dec 18, 2007 8:51 PM CST reply actions

Snake...

I mean no disrespect, but there are a couple of things I don't get. Firstly, this really just looks like speculating on old rumor from this site owner. Someone should probably mention that you don't have to credit a source (ESPN) when you're the source, by the way! But you tend to use alot of info from this site, and always preface it with "I know". If you think he's credible, I wouldn't worry about it if I were you. Although I will say you might be better served just using the link to the article(s) that our favorite site is crediting. Just a thought.

by Damen Jackson on Dec 18, 2007 8:58 PM CST reply actions

I say "(Yeah I know)" as sort of a joke.

Understand, that I'm not the source for any of this stiff, so I feel the need to credit everybody who is.

by Snake Plissken on Dec 19, 2007 12:09 PM CST up reply actions

As for Bedard ...

I see little hard evidence that the Cubs are seriously pursuing Bedard, though they should be.

Hendry overvalues his young players, and the Orioles probably overvalue Bedard.

The Cubs also have a false sense of security about how good their rotation is, I believe. They really need to add a solid No. 2, but I don't think they think they do unless it falls in their lap. And that ain't happening.

"It's a long fly to left field. And there it goes. Ahhh crap." -- Harry Caray

by cubz1963 on Dec 18, 2007 9:05 PM CST reply actions

I tend to agree...

although I suspect everyone involved recognizes the lack of Cubs assets more than anything else.

by Damen Jackson on Dec 18, 2007 9:10 PM CST up reply actions

I've posted the following before

but maybe not on this site.

I think Hendry and MacPhail have an agreement to talk after MacPhail gets the best offers he can for his veteran players, which may include Roberts, Bedard, Mora, Payton, and others. The Cubs don't have any one spectacular prospect they are willing to trade, but have guys at multiple positions. For example, if the Orioles can get a stud outfielder and young pitcher for Bedard, then the deal with the Cubs would be Cedeno, Patterson, and another player (maybe Marshall or Gallagher) for Roberts. Or, if the other deals yield a shortstop and relief prospect, maybe the Orioles accept Murton as part of the trade.

I predict some deal will go down between the Cubs and Orioles, and at least Brian Roberts will be involved. But there will be at least one other trade by the Orioles first.

Free the upper deck!

by cubzfan on Dec 18, 2007 9:56 PM CST reply actions

An insider

on Orioles Hangout just posted that he was told that Bedard and Roberts will gone by the end of the week. He said that the Roberts to the Cubs was as close to done as possible with Gallagher, Murton and Eric Patterson going to Baltimore. Bedard to the Reds, but the Mariners are still talking to the O's about Bedard. The Reds will have become a pretty damn good team if they get Bedard. They'll have the best 1-2 punch in the division and offense has never been their problem. If they get Bedard, they are the odds on favorite to win the division in my opinion.

by Maddog on Dec 18, 2007 10:07 PM CST reply actions

If the Reds get Bedard

the only hope the Cubs will have is that Dusty Baker is managing that team.

"It's a long fly to left field. And there it goes. Ahhh crap." -- Harry Caray

by cubz1963 on Dec 18, 2007 10:39 PM CST up reply actions

I'll take that bet

"I can't be held responsible for what I personally tell my goons to do...."- C. Montgomery Burns

by yahoodi on Dec 18, 2007 11:23 PM CST up reply actions

agree on the reds

with votto emerging and bruce coming up, and if homer bailey gives them anything they would be scary.

Kevin Hart Watch: IP: 11 K: 13 ERA: 0.82 WHIP: 1.00 K/BB: 3.25 a productive farm system is a wonderful thing.

by kylejo on Dec 19, 2007 7:09 AM CST up reply actions

The good news

is that the Reds would be trading guys like Bailey and Votto (they will not trade Bruce) for a pitcher who has never thrown 200 innings and while certainly a good pitcher, is wildly overrated.

I still think if the Reds get Bedard they're easily the best team in the NL Central.

by Maddog on Dec 19, 2007 7:58 AM CST up reply actions

You're saying two different things here.

On the one hand, you say Bedard is "wildly overrated".

But then you say if the Reds get him they're the best team in the NL Central.

Which is it?

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Dec 19, 2007 8:25 AM CST up reply actions

Both.

Wildly overrated doesn't mean he's a bad pitcher. It just means he's not an elite pitcher. He's a number 2 starter and if the Reds can get one, they've got a well above average 1, 2, and 3 in their rotation and I think Bailey, by season's end, will prove to be a number 2 caliber starter.

I wasn't saying 2 different things. Bedard is overrated, but he does make the Reds the best team in the NL Central. If they get him, their rotation is as good as anything you could expect from the Cubs, if not better. The Cubs bullpen is still probably better making the Cubs overall pitching staff better than the Reds, but probably not by much at all.

The difference is in the offense. The Reds have the potential to be a really good offensive team. The Cubs, at least at this point, are an average offensive club just as they were last season.

I'm still hopeful the Cubs have other moves to make, but as of right now, they're in the same boat they were last season. An 85-win team if they remain relatively healthy as they did in 2007. Adding Roberts AND a number 2 starter easily gives the Cubs the advantage over the Reds, but I haven't heard anything about the Cubs and a number 2 starter for quite some time. I'm actually quite surprised the Cubs aren't showing much of any interest in Bedard.

The good news is, as I said, the Reds can trade all that young talent for Bedard and in the process they'll be trading a pitcher (Cueto) who is more than likely going to be better than Bedard and they'll trade Votto and another youngster not named Jay Bruce. So the future will not look pretty for the Reds, but 2008 would look very good.

If these teams took the field today I think the Reds finish in 2nd place behind the Cubs with about 82 or 83 wins (a game or two behind the Cubs). I think the Brewers win less than 80 and finish in 3rd place next season.

Obviously things don't begin today so what happens from this point forward is crucial in my opinion. The Cubs did well to get back to where they were and now they have to improve. They haven't done that yet.

by Maddog on Dec 19, 2007 9:13 AM CST up reply actions

I agree...

... that the Cubs have more work to do.

However, don't you think that the Reds would have to include Bailey in any deal for Bedard? If I'm the Orioles, I think I'd insist on Bailey being included.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Dec 19, 2007 9:33 AM CST up reply actions

I assume both Bailey and Votto would go.

So I shouldn't have included Bailey in the "imaginary" rotation. Still, Harang, Bedard, and Arroyo is a pretty good top of the rotation.

by Maddog on Dec 19, 2007 10:16 AM CST up reply actions

I think your right Zambrano fan

O's will make moves, where the Cubs fall into those plans who knows.
I personally would rather have Bedard, and if it would cost us more so be it. Bedards upside is better than Roberts. I just don't think the Cubs have that elite prospect that the O's are looking for. Plus I think the Cubs will part with Pie, Colvin and Veal.
I think Seattle will be the destination for Bedard.
E. Patterson, Cedeno and Marshall I would deal for Roberts, NO Gallagher. I think Angelos would move his home boy Brian because of the "roid" issue.
We will see, but where does DeRosa fit in?

by Johnny Callison was a Cub on Dec 18, 2007 10:40 PM CST reply actions

Sorry

Cubs would not deal Veal, Pie and Colvin

by Johnny Callison was a Cub on Dec 18, 2007 10:41 PM CST reply actions

Leave it to Hendry...

to get another middle infielder. And he'd be a fool to trade Pie in that deal. Not saying he should hold onto Pie at all costs, but why in any trade would you GAIN something you already had (middle infield help) and SUBTRACT from something you don't have enough of (centerfield)?

That's the truth, though, on the whole Dusty thing. If I'm Bedard, I'm screaming at the O's to trade me to Seattle so that Dusty doesn't cause me to retire in four years due to arm trouble.

Just think, if the Cubs had avoided the Dust(y) Bowl...a healthy rotation of Zambrano, Wood, Prior, Hill...ahhhhhhhhhhh...

by cubs0505 on Dec 19, 2007 3:40 AM CST reply actions