Are Bedard's comments different from what we expected?

[amateurfan]

Based on everything that has happened this offseason, does this surprise anyone? It surprised me a little. I never thought that AM was serious about signing Bedard long term. I thought that his plan all along was to trade him. Do you think that EB's agent told AM that year to year was all that was wanted? I find that a little hard to believe because it leaves money on the table (then again, how far does 3.4 go in Canada?). Anyways, I feel like I've been misled. I'm not sure by whom, but I know that my thoughts about the direction of this team have been affected. AM keeps it close. Why did this happen?

[blueberryale77]

MacPhail has been very up front about the fact that he's been shopping Bedard around all winter. It makes no sense for the O's to keep him. The only reason he's blown any smoke about discussing an extension is to make opposing GMs think he's not desperate. That's part of his job and has nothing to do with misleading fans. Even then, both MacPhail and Bedard's agent said publicly way back around the winter meetings that talks about an extension had died down but weren't necessarily closed forever. I absolutely believe MacPhail that he was told Bedard preferred to go year to year. Quite possibly that took place after general parameters for a two or three year deal were discussed and the two sides realized they were pretty far apart, but I don't see what MacPhail has to gain by lying about that.