Assuming that Lackey is just going to be too expensive for the O’s to go after, do you envision the O’s going after Bedard or Harden?
If you do, what is the max-contract you would offer either?
Bedard turned 30 in March.
In 2008, and 2009, Bedard made 15 starts each-year.
In 2009, Bedard was 5-3 with a 2.82 era. In 83 innings, Bedard allowed 65 hits, 8 homers, 34 walks, with 90 k’s. He had a 0.80 G/F ratio, and held hitters to a .625 OPS against.
As ESPN’s Jerry Cransick wrote a month ago:
“Baseball executives who were dazzled by Bedard’s stuff and envisioned him as a staff ace-in-waiting now view him with more skepticism. He’s 30 years old, and he’s never pitched 200 innings. Over the past two seasons, he’s logged 164 innings in 30 starts.
He also helped get Bill Bavasi fired as GM in Seattle, which helps explain why Bavasi reacted so bluntly at his farewell press conference when asked about Bedard’s knack for five-inning appearances.
“You gotta ask him,” Bavasi told reporters. “He’ll have a stupid answer for you, you can count on it. He’ll have some dumb-ass answer.”
Since 2005, Bedard has been bothered by injuries to his knee, oblique, hip, hamstring, glute and shoulder. It’s hard to blame a guy for being fragile, but Bedard doesn’t help matters with his odd, standoffish personality.
Still, it’s a weak free-agent crop this winter, and a bunch of teams will take a look at Bedard as a short-term, high upside bet. The winning club will cross its fingers and pray.
“The tools and what your eyes see tell you this guy should be better,” said an American League executive. “But the makeup seems to hold him back from fulfilling that promise.”
Harden turns 28 at the end of November.
During his career, he has pitched the following innings by year:
2003: 74.2
2004: 189.2
2005: 128
2006: 46.2
2007: 25.2
2008: 148
2009: 141
2009: 9-9, 4.09 era, 122 hits, 23 homers, 67 walks, 171 k’s, 234 baa, 0.70 G/F, .727 OPS against
Reports are that during 2008, and 2009 he has used either his fastball, or his change-up 90% of the time. It has allowed Harden to give some innings the past two-years, but gives you an idea of Harden’s own opinion about the health of his arm.
I think the ‘negatives’ that exist for both players, provide the O’s with a chance of signing either-one. If everything was perfect about either, they would likely be priced-out of the O’s comfort-zone.
The last-news I saw on Bedard was that he likely to miss the first month of 2010, as he further recovers from the labrum injury.
Obviously that news is going to scare off plenty of teams. Combine that with the fact that Bedard obviously is familiar with Baltimore, and I think you can make a reasonable case for the O’s being able to sign him if they wanted to.
Would anyone offer two-guaranteed years for either player?
Bedard/Harden, Matusz, Tillman, Bergesen, Guthrie
With Arrieta waiting in the wings, and Hernandez, and Berken in the bullpen is attractive to me.
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Chris Stoner founded Baltimore Sports and Life in 2009. He has appeared as a radio guest with 1090 WBAL, 105.7 The Fan, CBS 1300, Q1370, WOYK 1350, WKAV 1400, and WNST 1570. He has also been interviewed by The Baltimore Sun, Baltimore Business Journal, and PressBox (TV). As Owner, his responsibilities include serving as the Managing Editor, Publicist, & Sales Director.