Bedard update
Jason A. Churchill at Prospect Insider has this:
I'm being told by three different sources that the trade is as close to being done as it can get without an actual deal. ...it's Adam Jones, Chris Tillman, George Sherrill, Tony Butler and Kameron Mickolio going to Baltimore. ... Press conference likely Tuesday as the teams are probably awaiting physical results for all players involved.
Looks like this is going to happen very quickly, and I would think it'll all get finalized and announced today.
Thanks for the good times, Erik.
I don't love the deal. I like Jones and Tillman, but Sherrill and Mickolio are parts and nothing more. But Bedard has to be dealt. And if Luke Scott hits a little bit, the Orioles could have their first real outfield in years. The rotation could get really ugly, but I have faith in Guthrie, Patton and Olson, if nobody else.
It'll be a long year, though. Let's just hope that along the way, we get some inspired play.
Of course, this could all be bullshit and fall through. I actually hope it's not.
Update, 9:29 AM: Mariners spokesman Tim Hevly has confirmed that Jones was asked to return to the U.S. -- this is probably hours away from being announced.
Update, 12:30pm: (h/t OEutaw below) Jayson Stark at ESPN.com reports that Sherrill has also informed teammates he has been asked to take a physical in conjunction with the trade. In the same article, Stark also quotes his source as saying that Angelos has not yet signed off on the deal, and that he is unavailable to sign off today due to a personal matter. This makes it likely that the earliest a potential deal would be announced is Tuesday.
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61 comments
Comments
the package
by birdman on Jan 28, 2008 2:49 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
"their first real outfield in years"
On the other hand, our rotation is likely to make grown men hurl. Let's face it, it's Guthrie, mix 'n' match and pray for rain.
On the third hand, there's still a potential middle finger-- Petey's, of course. Part of the Mighty Owner Persona he (delusionally) cherishes is the notion that his Ownerly Wisdom should trump the prospective mistakes of a FO he has maintained for years as a pro forma concession dictated by convention. Let go, Petey. If you can't go away, just shut up and let people do their jobs.
by Titov on Jan 28, 2008 3:01 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
re:
Heyman usually takes every chance he can to mention Angelos' meddling. It may or may not be an issue this time, but there is always some doubt.
"This is Birdland"
by drj on Jan 28, 2008 10:23 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
>their first real outfield in years
exciting words!!
by thewaywardO on Jan 28, 2008 9:52 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Jeez Louise...
by Chanumas on Jan 28, 2008 10:10 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
We're going to screw this up...
http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/baseball/bal-sp.orioles28jan28,0,4007161.story
by BirdFanInPhilly on Jan 28, 2008 10:42 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Don't know why this makes the O's look like idiots
by leeotis on Jan 28, 2008 12:10 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
RE:
If this deal doesn't get done; then my guess is its because Angelos got involved.
by BirdFanInPhilly on Jan 28, 2008 12:39 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I've come out of hibernation...
If checking out what mariners fans think of this trade is any indication of whats to come, then i'm actually excited. i never thought i'd be excited for any trade that started off "bedard is leaving the orioles for..." but yea. Jones looks like a potential stud with speed, an arm, and power ta boot. i figure as long as the staff can keep the ball a few inches from eutaw st, we might get to see something exciting happen out there.
then again, this is the orioles. i predict the trade happens and then the first game of the year kakes and jones, being the "saviours" of the team, slam into eachother and we have nothing to watch for another year. thats just me though.
Go (NJ)Giants!
by daveh873 on Jan 28, 2008 11:03 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Per ESPN,

Our fans are better than yours.
by OEutaw on Jan 28, 2008 12:09 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
link to this...

It's just a question of arrogant self-entitlement against drunken limp-dicked self-loathing--DaBB
by zknower on Jan 28, 2008 12:36 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
my thoughts
by dfa on Jan 28, 2008 12:27 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
RE:
by BirdFanInPhilly on Jan 28, 2008 12:33 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
RE
by BirdFanInPhilly on Jan 28, 2008 12:34 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Roberts Next?
by BPinOK on Jan 28, 2008 12:27 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
most people think Roberts will go now.

It's just a question of arrogant self-entitlement against drunken limp-dicked self-loathing--DaBB
by zknower on Jan 28, 2008 12:39 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
do you think?
i sort of have a feeling the o's are going to end up w/ felipe lopez when all is said and done.
by jq higgins on Jan 28, 2008 12:48 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
if the O's trade Brian to the Cubs
We've seen the best of Brian, and if Bedard and Tejada go, there is no reason to keep him around. I don't really care about his status in the community, which will mean fuck all to anyone as soon as this team starts winning ballgames.

Gone but not forgotten...
by SC on Jan 28, 2008 1:35 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Cedeno
by birdman on Jan 28, 2008 1:42 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
nah...
...which i guess is another way of saying that we've seen the best of fahey and luis, while cedeno still has a little upside.
by jq higgins on Jan 28, 2008 1:50 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
cedeno
i did see cedeno's minor league performance and it's not bad which is why I said slightly better version of brandon fahey rather he is another brandon fahey. But a 58+ OPS after almost 700 ABs. He looks like utility infielder.
by birdman on Jan 28, 2008 1:53 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
much younger age
by Reddrummer9187 on Jan 28, 2008 3:09 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Cedeno
Doom is a pretty strong word. I'm just not optimistic about Cedeno.
"Cedeno has minor league numbers and was at one point a fairly notable prospect. "
At one point is the key phrase. And his minor league numbers matter less when you almost 700 ABs of major league data.
by birdman on Jan 28, 2008 3:38 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
ok

Gone but not forgotten...
by SC on Jan 28, 2008 3:49 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
age
Remember those 700 at bats were at ages 22-24, this means that he was far more advanced than the players his age.
Having inconsistent plate appearance will take a number on most anybody. It even messes me up in slow pitch softball. I agree with SC here, i would rather get a piece like Cedeno than a low-ceiling guy who is likely to reach it.
by Reddrummer9187 on Jan 28, 2008 4:36 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Sweet
by BaltimoreBirdFlu on Jan 28, 2008 12:37 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Exciting time...
by RobG on Jan 28, 2008 12:49 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Why

"Everyone always says 'You don't have to do this.'"
by Jonnypops on Jan 28, 2008 12:54 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
per the World Widw Leader
"Can you feel it coming in the air tonight--oh lord"
by BENNYBIRDMAN on Jan 28, 2008 12:58 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
somebody
by birdman on Jan 28, 2008 1:03 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Whhhhaaattt??
by BPinOK on Jan 28, 2008 1:09 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Can you imagine.....
by duck on Jan 28, 2008 2:31 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Can you imagine..
by BirdFanInPhilly on Jan 28, 2008 2:38 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Exactly...
When Rick Ankiel was being shuttled back and forth from STL to the Memphis Redbirds I went to watch him pitch against the Oklahoma City Redhawks. About 10 guys behind the plate had on hardhats. It was unbelievable the kind of stuff Ankiel had, but in about 5 innings of work he threw at least 10 balls to the backstop. It was weird...he would strike out two guys on seven or eight pitches and then throw two straight to the backstop. When he left in the midst of the 6th inning the crowd gave him a standing ovation.
by BPinOK on Jan 28, 2008 2:40 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
let me sell you on Tillman...
Second, yes, 19 years old is very young for A+ ball. He was the second youngest player on his team (to Truinfel) and is a little more than 4 months younger than Brandon Erbe.
Third, High Desert was one of minor league baseball's toughest parks for pitchers. Go to baseball-cube, and check the ERAs of all the pitchers that pitched there. Of all their pitchers that threw more than 9 innings, only three had ERAs under 5, the best being 4.42. Tillman's ERA was the second best among starters. And it wasn't as if Tillman was pitching in pitcher's parks on the road because the entire Cal League is tough on pitchers.
Fourth, Tillman displayed major improvement as the year wore on:
Months with more than 1 start at High Desert
June - 23.3 IP, 15.6 K%, 13.1 BB%, 8.49 ERA
July - 32 IP, 25.9 K%, 6.3 BB%, 4.78 ERA
August - 34.7 IP, 28.3 K%, 9.7 BB%, 1.82 ERA
The guy at Lookout Landing discounts Tillman because as much as he doesn't like the trade, giving up a guy like Tillman for a guy like Bedard isn't a big deal. Jones is the big coup for us here.
by sportsman885 on Jan 28, 2008 3:55 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
one more point...
by sportsman885 on Jan 28, 2008 3:57 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Tillman
Source?
"He was the second youngest player on his team (to Truinfel) ."
Second youngest player doesn't mean much if the team's mean age is 20.
"Third, High Desert was one of minor league baseball's toughest parks for pitchers. Go to baseball-cube, and check the ERAs of all the pitchers that pitched there. Of all their pitchers that threw more than 9 innings, only three had ERAs under 5, the best being 4.42. Tillman's ERA was the second best among starters. And it wasn't as if Tillman was pitching in pitcher's parks on the road because the entire Cal League is tough on pitchers."
Cool, that's encouraging. But I just can't get excited about a guy until he does well in AA, especially after Erbe. If he's 3-4 years younger than his competition, then I'll get more excited. Dave Cameron at the USS Mariner, who's pretty damn good, doesn't seem to be terribly high on Tillman, which is affecting my opinion.
by birdman on Jan 28, 2008 4:47 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
its harder to get excited on young pitchers
His body is still maturing and as a pitcher that makes him really hard to project.
by Reddrummer9187 on Jan 28, 2008 4:58 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
re:
I'm just piecing it together...he was the #3 prospect in the Cal League by BA.
BP had Tillman as a 4-star prospect and #2 overall
Sickels has Tillman as a B+, and we know there aren't many of those out there.
"Age"
The average age of that team is 22. He was a sophomore playing on the varsity team basically, and doing better than most of his teammates, too.
So he is 3 years younger than his competition. In fact, checking baseball-reference, Tillman was the second youngest pitcher in the Cal League last year and of the 7 19 y/o's, he was the only to pitch more than 40 innings.
I hear ya on Erbe, but they were both at the same level, but Tillman had tougher pitching conditions, put up better numbers, and showed a lot more improvement than Erbe as the year progressed.
"Seattle Websites"
Sorry, I confused Lookout Landing with USS Mariner. On USS, there really isn't much info. about Tillman one way or the other. That site focuses on more on the MLB portion of the Mariners and Tillman is a young pitching prospect in the low minor league levels, so there is a risk associated with him that has nothing to do with talent.
For a different perspective on Tillman, see Churchill's take on him. Or check out detectovision, another very good Mariner site that likes Tillman a lot.
by sportsman885 on Jan 28, 2008 5:36 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Bad sign
Pete: Do you think this is the best deal we can get for him?
Andy: Yeah
Pete: Okay, do it. I'll see you tomorrow.
by BirdFanInPhilly on Jan 28, 2008 1:05 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Agreed
by BPinOK on Jan 28, 2008 1:10 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
The more time he has to think about it the worse
by birdman on Jan 28, 2008 1:34 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
RE:
by BirdFanInPhilly on Jan 28, 2008 1:37 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Ehhhh

"Everyone always says 'You don't have to do this.'"
by Jonnypops on Jan 28, 2008 1:46 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Tillman
"I won't care much over losing Chris Tillman. I will care deeply over losing Carlos Triunfel."
by birdman on Jan 28, 2008 1:59 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
sure... but it was point # 21 out of 22
by BENNYBIRDMAN on Jan 28, 2008 2:16 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
could have been worst
by merdon1332000 on Jan 28, 2008 1:27 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Maybe...
by BPinOK on Jan 28, 2008 1:51 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Seems like a kick-ass deal to me
We all know about Jones and Sherrill.
I don't think you can get too concerned about Tillman's control issues when he is so young. Supposedly he has outstanding stuff and he strikes out more than one guy an inning.
Mickolio strikes out almost a guy an inning, keeps the ball in the park, and has a career minor league ERA of 2.72. After half a season at AAA last year, he might be ready to make the bullpen out of spring training.
Butler is even wilder than Tillman, but he's also 19 and can also strike guys out. Give him some time.
Baseball America hasn't rated the M's prospects yet, so I don't know where they all shake out. But according to Minorleagueball.com, we get the M's #1, #4, and #6 prospects in the deal (2 B+s and a B-), plus 2 guys who could be in our bullpen this year. I'll take it.
by silverstadium on Jan 28, 2008 2:18 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
I wonder
by BaltimoreBirdFlu on Jan 28, 2008 4:14 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
RE:
by BirdFanInPhilly on Jan 28, 2008 4:44 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I agree on Pie
by Reddrummer9187 on Jan 28, 2008 4:52 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
re: Wet Blanket
They may yet just pick up a Baez equivalent and call it an off season. You'd be perplexed and certainly deflated, but deep down, would you really be surprised?
"This is Birdland"
by drj on Jan 28, 2008 5:21 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
RE:
by BirdFanInPhilly on Jan 28, 2008 6:35 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

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