Erik Bedard Question

Posted by

jemanji
12/14/09
9

Surfing the internet, we came across this quote from Bedard last August:

"I want to come back. I said that months before the surgery," he said. "But I don't know what their feelings are now. I'm sure we'll talk at some point."

Which is exactly where Ken Griffey Jr. was.

..............

Here's the question.  Supposing that Bedard's top offer was $3M.  Are the M's forced to offer a minimum of $6.4m -- the max 20% pay cut -- if they want him back?  Or does the 20% pay cut proviso apply to club-controls players?

If everybody else caps out at $3M, Bedard couldn't accept $5M from the M's?  Does anybody know the answer to that?

At $6.4M, Bedard would have to throw about 80 innings to earn his salary.  Alternatively, he could pitch three playoff games to earn his $6.4M.

.

Best answer, selected by asker:

It appears to me that since Bedard is a free agent and has not been offered arbitration, the Ms are not subject to the limit on reducing a salary by more than 20%.  That only appears to apply to players who are not free agents.

BTW, it sure looks to me like they aren't going to settle for Felix-Lee-spaghetti.  They're staying cozy with Bedard and scouting Kelvim Escobar (a little news nugget that kind of got lost in the shuffle). 

Why not trot out three guys with Cy stuff in your playoff series? - Spectator

.....

Thanks for playing.  Drive home safely.

Comments

1

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/thehotstoneleague/2010515695_ken_g...
Even though he's a free agent, the Mariners are still monitoring Bedard's recovery from shoulder surgery.
"I talked to Erik last week a couple of times. I talk to his therapist every 10 days or so,'' Griffin said. "We're still responsible, and I feel we have a responsibility to Erik to help him any way we can to get him going. He's going into therapy three or four times a week, and he's working out at home. I talked to him, and he said he feels really, really good. He's making good progress."
 
I think Bedard will be back in 2010.

2
glmuskie's picture

glmuskie (not verified)

Pretty impressive that the org is staying in touch and being supportive of a player who's not even on the roster.  I mean that sort of loyalty has got to mean a lot to Bedard, and other players as well.  It can do nothing but help the M's in increasing their rep as a smart, well-run team that demands excelence but treats people right.
As irrational as the ire and frustration the media & some fans have with Bedard, I have the reciprocal amount of affection for him.  I like the standoff-ish nature, to me its refreshing from all the empty platitudes you get from most players.  And I love watching him pitch and just laughing out loud at that cartoon curve he paints the corners with.
Imagine Bedard as a weapon emerging in the 2nd half of the season for the playoff run.  Felix-Lee-Bedard-Morrow as a starting rotation?  Just sick.  Mix it up, put Bedard in the pen to bridge to the closer, even make Bedard the closer.  Any way you slice it, pure baseball joy.

3
zumbro's picture

zumbro (not verified)

Amid the frenzied celebration (in which I am fully taking part) Muskie's Bedard-as-closer remark brings up a very interesting question mark that bears consideration:
Is David Aardsma apt to flame out in Oh-Ten?
If he does, do we have a legitimate fall-back (please don't suggest Morrow)?
My eyes see a nearly bulletproof pitching staff, but I've been watching ninth innings for long enough to be nervous about our back-end guy. Aardsma looks to me like he's been pumping straight-as-an-arrow, unspectacular heat past good hitters for too long, now. I'm seriously afraid he'll get figured out this year.
A team that is all pitching and defense can ill afford such a meltdown, what with all the one-run leads they're likely to be nursing in the ninth this season.
Anybody talk me off the ledge on this one?

4

Usher you right up front to the captain's chair m'man...
The only ledge-talking we can offer, is that Lowe-then-Fields-maybe-Kelley will be ready w-h-e-n Aardsma turns into a punkin...
Bedar' as closer, is that genius or what?  Can you IMAGINE that hook in the 9th?  Question is what Erikkkkk says when you bring it up.  He has a contract to negotiate the following winter.

5

Harden, Sheets, Bedard, others.... but if Bedard is getting good reports and pointed towards May, I'll be taking him among my top 25 pitchers...
Have seen too many leagues won by a savvy owner who grabbed a lurking-and-forgotten ace like Bedard and then crushed the league 2nd half.
When right, Erik can buzz-saw opponents worse than Felix or Lee.  He'll fan five guys in a row, waltz to lockdown performances, just humiliate teams.

6

It appears to me that since Bedard is a free agent and has not been offered arbitration, the Ms are not subject to the limit on reducing a salary by more than 20%.  That only appears to apply to players who are not free agents.
BTW, it sure looks to me like they aren't going to settle for Felix-Lee-spaghetti.  They're staying cozy with Bedard and scouting Kelvim Escobar (a little news nugget that kind of got lost in the shuffle). 
Why not trot out three guys with Cy stuff in your playoff series?

7

Josh Fields senior year at Georgia, in the SEC (so against quality opposition), when he was in a groove:
     37.1 IP, 63 K, .133 BA against, 18 saves
Then you have to kind of ignore his holdout and rust-shaking-off period and tune back in this fall in Arizona:
     11.0 IP, 10 K, 1.64 ERA .154 BA against, finished with 8 consecutive scoreless outings
     vs. LH, 1.69 ERA, .190 BA against, 5 K
     vs. RH, 1.54 ERA, .111 BA against, 5 K
Does that mean he can get major leaguers out in the 9th inning right away?  I don't know, but it's the kind of track record you like to see.

8

1.  Those with live arms, that you groom to effectiveness.
2.  Those blessed with a true plus-plus, wipeout pitch.
.................
Fields according to all reports has a Tom Gordon overhand curve.  That made him a great bet to wipe out pro's even at 91 mph; Gordon was at one time MLB's best closer* throwing only 90.  Daimajin was superb even at 90-92, because of his 'thang'.
But Fields was then reported to throw 94-97.  If he has both of those pitches, you're talking Bryan Harvey or something.
Getting a kid to throw two pitches for strikes isn't rocket science.  There's no reason to set a timetable that applies to kids with normal arms.

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