Last-minute attempt by O's to sign ace holding up trade

[Lamda]

not sure how up-to-date that article is really. I think that might have been the case on Sunday but I don't think they are trying to sign him to an extension anymore. Churchill on his site with his insiders said that was the case - that Angelos told AM he was interested in signing Bedard to a deal but that AM told him that was not the best direction for the club so Angelos relented. All signs still point to this going through in a day or so.

We've been getting a lot of bad reporting around so don't get up in a fit about everything that comes out, hehe. Baker on his blog cleared up the Jones injury thing saying that insiders from both clubs have admitted that was completely false - no truth to the rumor at all and that both sides got a good laugh out of that one.

[birdsfan4ever]

Wow, that is blockbuster news if true. I have never seen a situation with so many twists and turns. If I wake up one day soon to the news that Bedard has signed a 5-year deal with us, I won't know whether to laugh or cry.

Is Angelos really doing this? Is he overruling MacPhail's judgment, or did MacPhail want him to make this call?

Here's a scenario:

1. MacPhail has discussions with Piepers and concludes Bedard is not receptive to a long-term deal.

2. MacPhail tells Angelos that a long term deal is not in the cards.

3. On that basis, Angelos OK's a trade with Seattle.

4. Bavasi tells Adam Jones to fly home.

5. Angelos reads the published reports that Bedard "wouldn't mind" re-signing with the Orioles (which first appeared in the Canadian press), and concludes he approved the trade under an incorrect assumption.

6. Angelos tells MacPhail to put the brakes on until they take one last shot at Bedard.

7. Angelos calls Bedard and proposes a 5-year deal; Bedard says he might be interested.

8. Seattle deal put on hold while the O's explore this further.

Plausible?

Yes, and I think the likely outcome would be Seattle gets tired of waiting and moves on and Bedard doesn't sign an extension with us.

[dan the man]

Don't fall for this one. Like someone said before, that call was made Sunday night when the **** hit the fan. Since then, we've inched closer and closer (again), according to various media sources, to getting the deal done. And I can understand PGA's desire to keep the guy. You can't compete in the AL East without an ace. But no, it's not the right move to keep Erik Bedard. But it's better that Angelos tried to sign the guy and didn't just nix the deal straight up. Either way, Erik doesn't want to stay here.

I like to think what Churchill said was right:

"But the same Orioles rep that gave me the trade offer details has told me Angelos has told McPhail he's fine with the trade as long as extending Erik Bedard is not a realistic option at this point.

<b>McPhail has apparently informed Angelos that extending Bedard is not the best route to putting a contending team on the field sooner than later, at least in his opinion. </b>"

[Frobby]

Source - The Sun, Jan 25

Source - TheOrioles.com, Jan 30

"Recently" could mean between Jan. 25 and Jan. 30, so MacPhail's Jan. 25 statement isn't necessarily at odds with what is now being reported. In fact, I believe I posted, after reading Bedard's remarks over the weekend, that the O's ought to get back in touch with Bedard and figure out exactly what he means.

[The Wedge]

I think this gives credibility to what Churchill said earlier, about how there was some internal discussion about the possibility of an extension, but MacPhail convinced Angelos that it wasn't in our best interest, and that the trade is going through. Sounds like maybe this article is just a little behind.

Or it's speculation based on that Churchill report.

At this point, who the hell knows?

[birdsfan4ever]

All signs still point to this going through in a day or so.

What? All signs are pointing in different directions

[birdsfan4ever]

Serenity now!

[clarence]

If they sign Bedard I don't see Macphail staying here much longer.

If Bedard is resigned, I think it doesn't matter if AM is here or not, we have a GM in the owners box and nothing but his death or new ownership will change that.

[RShack]

Wow, that is blockbuster news if true. I have never seen a situation with so many twists and turns. If I wake up one day soon to the news that Bedard has signed a 5-year deal with us, I won't know whether to laugh or cry.

Is Angelos really doing this? Is he overruling MacPhail's judgment, or did MacPhail want him to make this call?

Here's a scenario:

1. MacPhail has discussions with Piepers and concludes Bedard is not receptive to a long-term deal.

2. MacPhail tells Angelos that a long term deal is not in the cards.

3. On that basis, Angelos OK's a trade with Seattle.

4. Bavasi tells Adam Jones to fly home.

5. Angelos reads the published reports that Bedard "wouldn't mind" re-signing with the Orioles (which first appeared in the Canadian press), and concludes he approved the trade under an incorrect assumption.

6. Angelos tells MacPhail to put the brakes on until they take one last shot at Bedard.

7. Angelos calls Bedard and proposes a 5-year deal; Bedard says he might be interested.

8. Seattle deal put on hold while the O's explore this further.

Plausible?

A similar but different theory: http://forum.orioleshangout.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1185792

[The Wedge]

What? All signs are pointing in different directions

Suicide is painless...

<img src = http://www1.istockphoto.com/file_thumbview_approve/1366548/2/istockphoto_1366548_sign_post.jpg></img>

[Moose Milligan]

Brilliant timing.

Seriously, how come no one thought of this before a blockbuster deal was hanging in the balance?

[ChaosLex]

[* confused *]

Or what? Why had it "better not be true"?

If it is true, what are you gonna do? Didn't you already say "On a serious note, the Orioles are never seeing another dime from me. I ordered FanFest tickets this weekend, and they're going in the shredder upon their arrival... Oh, and no offense, but I find it hilarious that there are people who honestly think there's a chance Bedard and Roberts might still be traded."

Given all that, I don't see how it could possibly make any difference at all. Seems like you already took a Very Firm Stance. So, what difference would it make? Unless it means that you're not gonna shred your FanFest tickets. Is that it? If it's true, then you'll be going to FanFest after all?

If it turns out that Angelos is meddling again (as I originally believed on Monday night when I made those comments), then yes, this team will never see another cent of my income.

However, if the infomration that we're receiving from Belkast, Churchill, etc., is correct and Angelos is staying out of it, I'll gladly apologize for my comments.

By the way, I've been nothing but nice to you in the past. There's no reason to troll me.

[Moose Milligan]

Suicide is painless...

<img src = "http://www1.istockphoto.com/file_thumbview_approve/1366548/2/istockphoto_1366548_sign_post.jpg">

[The Wedge]

Yeah, that's what I posted...

[BaltimoreTerp]

I doubt this matters much.

We all will get the trade we want, while the team can tell the writers and casual fans that they did everything they could to resign their best player before trading him for people they have never heard of.

At least this is a better topic then what I was expecting from the title. I was worried we were waiting until we could sign Livan Hernandez or something