Gammons: Bedard trade delay hurting O’s chance to suck more in ‘08

BRISTOL, CT — According to ESPN baseball maven Peter Gammons, the continuing Erik Bedard trade saga is slowing down the offseason progress of the Baltimore Orioles organization and threatening the team’s ability to stink even worse in 2008 than they have the past several years.

“It’s hard to understand, frankly,” Gammons told SSNN. “I thought I knew what Baltimore was trying to do a couple months ago – they were ready to deal Brian Roberts for peanuts and Erik Bedard for a song. With Tejada gone, those two deals would almost guarantee a sub-70 win season. Now, suddenly, they’re not unloading these talented players; it’s like they’re not worried that an ace of Bedard’s quality could push them near .500. Well, that’s a possibility now.”

The Orioles have won more than 74 games only once since the turn of the century, and have not finished over .500 since winning the AL East in 1997. The team has finished fourth in the division every year since, except 2004 when they finished third.

Bedard has been one of the few bright spots, and the O’s best pitcher over the last two seasons. Nevertheless, he has been the subject of constant trade talks in the offseason, with recent rumors sending him to the Seattle Mariners. Roberts, who hit .290 and stole 50 bases in 2007, has also seen his name tossed around in trade scenarios.

“If they can just find a way to ship Bedard to Seattle, I think they can probably overcome Roberts’ ability and maybe even finish behind the Devil Rays– er, I’m sorry the Rays. The point is, they could really suck. But if this ridiculous negotiating lasts much longer, I could see the Mariners going a different direction for starting pitching. The O’s might just screw themselves right into 75 wins.”

It’s going to be tough for this sport to sweep any nations, but it’s still pretty frickin’ cool!