Bedard to Seattle in final stages.

It looks like the long rumored Erik Bedard trade between the Baltimore Orioles and Seattle Mariners is almost complete. According to the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, "Mariners outfielder Adam Jones traveled to Baltimore on Sunday, a source said, presumably to undergo a physical examination that originally was scheduled for Jan. 29."

In the deal Bedard would go to Seattle while the Orioles would receive OF Adam Jones, left-handed reliever George Sherrill as well as minor league pitchers Chris Tillman, Kam Mickolio and Tony Butler. Pretty good haul for the Orioles i would say, but yet very high risk.

Tillman, 19, has been regarded as one of the organization's top prospects since the Mariners made him a second-round selection in 2006. Mickolio, an 18th-round pick in the same draft, made it to Triple-A last season at age 23. Butler, a lefty, allowed less than a hit per inning at Class A Wisconsin last season at age 19. If just one of these pitchers wound up succeeding in the bigs, the Orioles would receive at least 3 quality major league ball players.

For those who have been hiding under a rock and don't understand why so much for Bedard, it's pretty simple. Bedard, 28, is one of the best young left handed pitchers in baseball. Bedard was 13-5 and struck out 221 batters in 182 innings last season while also missing a month because of an oblique injury. He was a Cy-Young candidate before his injury, has a 95-mph fastball and most importantly dominates AL hitters, especially Yankees and Red Sox hitters which could fare well if the Mariners make the playoffs. And he still can't become a free agent for 2 more years.

With King Felix Hernandez and Bedard at the top of the rotation things are definitely looking bright in Seattle. In Baltimore, well who knows what is going on there, except looking towards the future year in and year out. No doubt in my mind they take the cellar dweller spot in the AL East next year.