Bedard still no. 1 on Seattle wish list...

[Black & Orange]

<b>According to the Seattle Post Intelligencer:

No Santana for Mariners; Bedard tops wish list

For those who hadn't guessed by now, the Mariners are out of the Johan Santana derby.

Seattle isn't willing to mortgage the Mariner farm system in order to bring Santana from the Minnesota organization into the fold.

However, the Mariners aren't giving up on adding a starting pitcher in the runup to the 2008 spring training season.

Seattle insiders say that the club would like nothing better than to land Baltimore's Erik Bedard, who stands as the No. 1 man on the Mariner wish-list.

However, the Orioles to this point want to get Seattle pitcher Brandon Morrow as part of the compensation along with outfielder Adam Jones and perhaps another minor leaguer.

And the Mariners are adamant they won't trade Morrow for Bedard.

Posted by John Hickey at January 3, 2008 1:42 p.m.</b>

<i>>Still states the obvious about Morrow. I still like Seattle as the best target for a Bedard trade...</i>

[Pruke]

Great post - let's beat the 'trade war' drums!

[Hank Scorpio]

Great post - let's beat the 'trade war' drums!

Yup!!!!

This is great stuff, I wish I could watch AM playing Anaheim & Seattle against one another.

[baltfan]

I think the trade of Swisher also increases the odds of a Seattle deal. Seattle has to look at the West and be bouyed by the fact that one of its biggest competitors from last year isn't looking to compete next year.

If you are the Mariners maybe you think 2008-9 is their window of opportunity because by 2010 the young talent of Oakland and Texas should be breaking through.

[Roll Tide]

I like it also ...If they wont move Morrow then take their next best pitching prospect & 2 others & get on with it.

Thanks for the great info Black & Orange!

[Jagwar]

Even better, it will be great to trade Bedard to the Angels, then watch him beat the M's 4 times this year

[JTrea81]

I've said it too many times:

Forget about Morrow! He should not be a dealbreaker!

Now that I have that off my chest, this just confirms the Twins blog that said the Mariners were out. But seriously about Morrow, the guy just isn't going to be an ace, he's a #3 at best. Tillman IMO is a better pitching prospect. Personally I don't know which FO is dumber, the Orioles for insisting he be part of the trade or the Mariners for not giving him up and keeping their better pitching prospects and still landing Bedard.

[Roll Tide]

What would be the Angel's offer likely consist of?

Also I think Angelos prefers Bedard dealt to the NL. Just my opinion ... but beating the M's 4 times per year would mean beating us a couple as well!

[JTrea81]

What would be the Angel's offer likely consist of?

Also I think Angelos prefers Bedard dealt to the NL. Just my opinion ... but beating the M's 4 times per year would mean beating us a couple as well!

I would rather have the prospects from the Angels or Mariners helping us win during 162 games a year than worry about Bedard beating us in 2 games a year.

[oandb21]

Seriously, take adam jones, and any other 2 players. Forget about morrow, he is not that good. We are going to lose Bedard one way or the other, why not get the best prospect on the board, and he is someone who could step in now, and be productive.

[JTrea81]

If MacPhail refuses to trade Bedard to the Mariners with Jones and Clement on the table just because Morrow isn't and as a result keeps him, it will be the worst mistake he could ever make. Don't screw this one up Andy!

[hoosiers]

I've said it too many times:

Forget about Morrow! He should not be a dealbreaker!

Now that I have that off my chest, this just confirms the Twins blog that said the Mariners were out. But seriously about Morrow, the guy just isn't going to be an ace, he's a #3 at best. Tillman IMO is a better pitching prospect. Personally I don't know which FO is dumber, the Orioles for insisting he be part of the trade or the Mariners for not giving him up and keeping their better pitching prospects and still landing Bedard.

I think Tillman is an outstanding pitching prospect, but I think someone is really making a bold statement saying Tillman is flat out better. There's not THAT much difference in their ages and Morrow is pitching three levels higher and is successfully retiring major league hitters. If Morrow had been in AA throwing 125 IP and striking out more than 1 batter per inning, he'd have been a league top five prospect and we'd be going crazy over him.

Though I'm defending Morrow, I could give or take him. I have little problem if AM is just negotiating hoping to get more from the Ms after dropping the Morrow request. As we've discussed something along the lines of Jones, Clement, Tillman and Butler would be outstanding, IMO.

[Sports Guy]

I think Tillman is an outstanding pitching prospect, but I think someone is really making a bold statement saying Tillman is flat out better. There's not THAT much difference in their ages and Morrow is pitching three levels higher and is successfully retiring major league hitters. If Morrow had been in AA throwing 125 IP and striking out more than 1 batter per inning, he'd have been a league top five prospect and we'd be going crazy over him.

Though I'm defending Morrow, I could give or take him. I have little problem if AM is just negotiating hoping to get more from the Ms after dropping the Morrow request. As we've discussed something along the lines of Jones, Clement, Tillman and Butler would be outstanding, IMO.

Morrow is almost 4 years older...That is a huge difference.

I would much rather have Tillman.

[clapdiddy]

What if the offer is Jones, Tillman, Chen, and Triunfel? Do you do this?

[HoilesOsBigbie]

I think the trade of Swisher also increases the odds of a Seattle deal. Seattle has to look at the West and be bouyed by the fact that one of its biggest competitors from last year isn't looking to compete next year.

If you are the Mariners maybe you think 2008-9 is their window of opportunity because by 2010 the young talent of Oakland and Texas should be breaking through.

That is certainly possible but you could also look at it another way. Does Seattle want to trade away two of their best hitting prospects (Jones & Clement) to get back a pitcher who may be gone by 2010? If they take that chance with the win now mentality, they could be set up for a long run in the cellar. I suppose it all comes down to whether their front office is willing to take a chance at being in the basement a few years from now to get where they want to be in the next couple years (playoffs/world series etc).

I wonder though does gaining Bedard and losing Jones, Clement and another prospect or two make them the division winners over Anaheim?? To me I dont think it does and it is highly unlikely IMO that the wildcard will be coming from the west (though stranger things have happened).