THE CANADIAN PRESS
Canadian pitcher Erik Bedard could be traded to the Seattle Mariners within 24 hours, according to a report posted Sunday on the Seattle Times’ website.
The Baltimore Orioles starter is rumoured to be part of a package of players that includes Mariners outfielder Adam Jones.
According to the report, Jones was pulled from the Venezuelan Winter League playoffs by the Mariners and told Venezuelan reporters there that he’s being sent to Baltimore for a physical on Monday in advance of a deal.
"(Seattle GM Bill Bavasi) called me yesterday and told me the news," Jones was quoted as saying. "I’ve got to go to Baltimore tomorrow morning and handle things there. I’m the centrepiece of the deal on the Mariners’ side. It’s an honour to get traded for such a highly talented pitcher as Bedard is."
Mariners spokesman Tim Hevly confirmed Jones will no longer be playing in Venezuela, but wouldn’t comment on Bedard, a native of Navan, Ont..
"We’ve told him to come home to the U.S.," Hevly said of Jones in the report. "I can’t say anything beyond that."
The 28-year-old Bedard went 13-5 last season with a 3.16 ERA and 221 strikeouts, third in the AL. He’s currently scheduled for an arbitration hearing next month, with the left-hander asking for US$8 million per season and Baltimore countering at $6 million.
