The Baltimore Orioles Finally Trade Erik Bedard

Left-hander Erik Bedard was acquired by the Seattle Mariners from the Baltimore Orioles on Friday in a long-delayed trade for five prospects.

Baltimore received outfielder Adam Jones, who will probably start in center field on Opening Day. The Orioles also obtained reliever George Sherrill and pitchers Chris Tillman, Tony Butler and Kam Mickolio.

Bedard, Baltimore's Opening Day starter last year, joins a rotation that includes newly signed Carlos Silva and holdovers Felix Hernandez, Jarrod Washburn and Miguel Batista.

The departure of Bedard is yet another move to youth by the Orioles under president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail. Shortstop Miguel Tejada, a former AL MVP, was traded to Houston on Dec. 12.

Its hard to say at the moment whether this trade helped or hurt the Orioles. However, one thing is certain. With Bedard gone, Baltimore does not have an ace or even someone that's a lock to pitch on Opening Day. Jeremy Guthrie and Adam Loewen are the top candidates, and Daniel Cabrera might be given consideration.

The Mariners, with Bedard, Silva, and Washburn, have a chance to compete in the AL West. I remember last year they went on such a tear at one point I was ready to start supporting them, but then they quickly quieted down again. I still don't think they will be able to match the Angels hitting and pitching, but they'll make things interesting like they did last year.

Updated News As The 2008 Baseball Season Approaches

The long-awaited Erik Bedard trade to the Mariners reportedly may be nearing completion. The Baltimore Sun and Seattle Post-Intelligencer are reporting that Mariners outfielder Adam Jones -- the key prospect the Orioles are expected to receive for Bedard -- is in Baltimore to take a physical. The Sun, citing an unnamed source, reported Monday that the trade of Bedard from Baltimore to Seattle is pending only completion of physicals. The newspaper reported that if Jones passes his physical, a trade could be announced as soon as Monday.

Talk about old school! Juan Gonzalez is trying a comeback with the St. Louis Cardinals. After sitting out the past two seasons, the two-time AL MVP will be one of 26 non-roster players invited to St. Louis' spring training camp this month. The 38-year-old Gonzalez last played regularly in 2003 when he had 24 home runs and 70 RBIs in 324 at-bats for the Texas Rangers. He had one at-bat with Cleveland in 2005 before injuring his hamstring.

Shelley Duncan is at early spring training workouts, healthy and looking forward to the season following offseason treatment for a blood clot. Duncan will be competing for time at first base with Morgan Ensberg, Wilson Betemit, Jason Lane and Jason Giambi, who is heading into the final season of his $120 million, seven-year contract. Duncan also played both corner outfield positions last season along with first base.

Free agent first baseman Sean Casey has reached an agreement a one-year, $700,000 contract with the Boston Red Sox, ESPN's Peter Gammons reports. Friday's deal was made pending a physical. Casey will give the Red Sox an experienced backup at first to starter Kevin Youkilis.

The Detroit Tigers could have kept Curtis Granderson around for a while, retaining his talents with one-year deals until he became eligible for free agency after the 2011 season. The Tigers, though, don't just wait around to make moves these days. Granderson and baseball's busiest team agreed Monday to a $30.25 million, five-year contract that includes a club option for 2013 that could make the deal worth up to $43.25 million.

Khalil Greene's big 2007 season with the San Diego Padres resulted in the shortstop agreeing to a two-year, $11 million guaranteed contract with the team, according to a published report.