Bedard Says He Wants to Stay

by ~ June 5th, 2009 at 1:13 am

Most of the talk surrounding Erik Bedard this season has been about when he’ll be traded, what team he’ll be traded to and who the Mariners might get in return.  It’s standard procedure for just about any free agent to be, but especially for a top of the rotation starter who can bring back some top notch prospects to help improve Seattle’s lackluster farm system.

However, there has been some people wondering if it would be a good idea to extend Bedard, myself included.  I’d love the prospects but I would also like to add Bedard to a 2010 rotation that currently consists of Felix Hernandez and four back of the rotation scrubs.

Cutting to the chase, Bedard made a radio appearance on Thursday and he was asked about trade rumors and how he’d feel about an extension.  Bedard comes on sometime around the 15 minute mark and talks for several minutes, but here are the money quotes:

Host: How much are you enjoying Seattle this year?

Bedard: I love Seattle.  I can’t complain– the city, the fans, the stadium, all of the new coaches we got, the players.  It’s a lot of fun.

…

Host: Have you had any conversations with the Mariners this year about possibly returning here next year and trying to work out some long term extension before the season?

Bedard: No.

Host: Hasn’t happened.  Is that something you would consider?

Bedard: Yes.  I love it here.  So, if it does happen I’d be happy.

Interesting.  Bedard said similar things back in February.

I’ve got to call it a night but I’ll try to add some thoughts later.

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  • SABR Matt

    Alex Rodriguez: “Seattle is my first choice. I want to play for a winner and Seattle is definitely on the right track there.”

    Talk is cheap.

  • http://bleedingblueandteal.com Dustin Shires

    Matt beat me to it. Hah!

  • http://1995mariners.com hatomama

    Sure, talk is cheap, but did people notice he said he’d spent the morning at Jay Buhner’s fishing for trout? Buhner and Bedard have absolutely no connection as teammates, so to me, Bedard going over there shows he actually has some interest in the Mariners’ glory days and feels comfortable hanging out with at least one of the big ex-Mariner stars. I thought that’s a more meaningful sign than the things he said.

  • moethedog

    I’ve been saying for a ong time to make every effort to sign him.

    A Felix and Bedard 1-2 punch is a great thing to build a winner on. The strength of thisteam right now is pitching…why try to change that. If you lose Bedard…you just have to try and find another.

    Bedard, Felix, Vargas (who more and more looks like a great competitor on the mound who will not beat himself), RRS…and then a bunch of other arms to pick from is a pretty potent group of starters.

    Washburn is at his most valuable right now. He’s your trade material. Heck, I’ld sign him, too. But if you only have limited resources then Bedard is the focus. Bautista goes. Beltre goes. Wash goes. That frees up a bunch of dollars.

    Sign Bedard and find any other SS in baseball. Lopez is still a hacking hack of a hack…but you can live with one of those in your infield. Would be nice if Lopez could field, though.

    Wlad is not the answer in the OF. Kills AAA. Overmatched by major league stuff. Try Saunders, then. I like Chavez…but you need one slugging OF between LF and CF.

    Sweeney is a great guy. I want him to have some gas left. He doesn’t. Time for Carp at the DH. Junior give you one good game…and then goes O ‘fer 12.

    But…I ramble…Just sign Bedard

    Keith

  • http://bleedingblueandteal.com Jon Shields

    Good point and great illustration, Matt– this could mean nothing at all if he’s just being political. But it’s worth pointing out that Seattle is a city that Bedard should be attracted to. The biggest selling point could be that it’s out of the limelight and has a low key media base. The beat writers don’t particularly like him but their public bitching has been pretty minimal. You could also make a case for being one of (if not the) most Canadian-esque in America, if that makes sense. Probably appeals to the outdoorsmen side of Bedard as well.

    I also get the impression that Bedard isn’t one of those players that is desperate for a World Championship. I’m not saying he’s not competitive, because I think he’s one of the fiercest competitors on the team, but I get the feeling that he relishes the one on one competition at bat to at bat more than anything.

    But yes, talk is cheap. Not to mention the fact that the Mariners may not want him back and would prefer trading him for prospects.

    Also, I’m thinking that this could be great for Seattle in terms of leverage on the trade market. Zduriencik could play the “we don’t really need to trade him because he is willing to re-sign” card in hopes of bringing in better offers.

  • Luisam911

    I was working last night at 9pm in the grocery store i work and guess who walked in? Brock who was one of the interviewers. I was like so what did Bedard say? and he just said” He really likes it here and it looks like he wants to stay”

  • SABR Matt

    I think Seattle would love to have Bedard sign an extension…I just don’t think Seattle likes the idea of signing pitchers to long term deals and the market is going to demand 5 years for Bedard most likely. 5 years and 18 mil per year or thereabouts. Do the Mariners have the balls to offer that?

    Now if we’d gotten him for a cheaper gamble-deal after the injuries last season…maybe…but it’s hard to see Howie and Chuckie approving a 90 million dollar deal for a guy who is not super-duper popular with the media and who may or may not stay healthy.

    That said…I do think Seattle is an area Bedard would enjoy…great hunting and fishing nearby, good laid back culture, great ballpark, good management team now, quiet and not too much media scrutiny…and a fairly good shot at winning within the next contract window assuming it’s at least 3-4 years.

    I’m just saying…just because someone says they love a place doesn’t mean they actually do. We’ll see…

  • SABR Matt

    Oh and BTW…if we trade Bedard…there’s nothing stopping us from signing him anyway.

  • http://bleedingblueandteal.com Jon Shields

    ^I was thinking that last night as I typed this but left it out for some reason. That would be the dream scenario, really, no matter how rarely it happens. Role players often sign back with the team that traded them but I can’t think of any big names doing it… at least not recently.

  • lamlor

    Jon- What about Felix? Why hasn’t he wanted to sign an extension at this point? Is the number one reason money, losing, or Seattle itself?

    What are the odds he re-signs before the end of next year?

  • SABR Matt

    The Ms will have to blow Felix away or he’s gone. He seems like the kind of cocky bastard that craves the bright lights.

    And you’re right, Jon, that usually once you get traded, it’s hard to work up the desire to sign with the club again after the season…usually the momentum goes out of the room for you and that place when they tell you with their actions that they don’t need you.

    But the Mariners could, if they did a good job selling him on it, convince Bedard that they really do want him to stay but that they feel it’s in HIS best interests to go somewhere in July to have a chance to win and then the Mariners will pursue him with gusto in the off-season. Just a matter of the sales pitch.