Buzz: The Cost for Haren and Bedard
…i sense there is a mad scramble starting, with teams like the Mets and Dodgers, among others, hounding the A’s, Marlins, Giants and Orioles, to try and snag a top-line starting pitcher, while the Red Sox and Yankees remain bogged down in talks with the Twins about Johan Santana…
Last night, in the Washington Post, citing ‘league sources,’ Barry Svrluga wrote that LHP Erik Bedard has has no interest in signing a contract extension to stay with the O’s beyond 2009, which could provide additional motivation for his team to move him in a trade during this off-season.
In yesterday’s Daily News, Roger Rubin wrote that it was Lastings Milledge whom the Mets recently offered to the O’s for Bedard, not Gomez, along with Heilman and Humber, which was rejected.
Rubin quoted a baseball official as saying…
“You put Ryan Church or Gomez in place of Milledge in an offer and it might be a more attractive offer.”
…early the buzz from nashville suggests that to get bedard or Dan Haren, it may end up costing more than the Twins will get for santana, since, technically, the A’s and O’s do not have to make a trade…
…for instance, to get haren, the Mets may be asked to part with Carlos Gomez or Ryan Church plus Fernando Martinez, along with two pitchers, ranging from John Maine to Aaron Heilman to Phil Humber…for what it’s worth, i don’t believe the A’s have much interest in Mike Pelfrey…it will take a similarly large package to land bedard, who may cost more than haren at this point…
Meanwhile, according to Jayson Stark, at ESPN.com, Bedard is drawing ‘massive interest’ from the Dodgers, Mariners, Mets, Yankees, Red Sox and Phillies, among others, though he writes that the Orioles think they could have a ‘potential match’ with the Dodgers.
…as i wrote yesterday, the Dodgers have long been referenced as bedard’s most aggressive suitor, from whom baltimore will likely request OF Matt Kemp, RHP Jonathan Broxton or RHP Clayton Kershaw…of course, the Dodgers may need many, if not all, of those prospects to get Miguel Cabrera from the Marlins, though most people still believe the Angels are the front-runner for cabrera…
Lastly, according to the Providence Journal, the Red Sox have had ‘discussions’ with the Brewers regarding RHP Ben Sheets.
…sheets is interesting, in that while he hasn’t made more than 24 starts in any of the last three seasons, he is eligible to be a free agent after next season, and could be the potential ace so many teams are seeking, assuming he can stay healthy…the thing is, coming off of a successful season, i find it hard to believe the Brewers will cut ties with their marquee pitcher…if they do, it’ll likely happen during the season, not now…
