If I were to make out a contract that would (a) show my commitment to Bedard and make him happy to be here (b) show my willingness to help him rehab and (c) show the rest of the team we won't put up with failuire if he keeps getting hurt...it would look something like this:
2010: Guaranteed contract 8 million base - incentives for IP up to 13 mil if he pitches 180 innings
2011: Team option with a base of 13 mil that auto-locks if he pitches 200 innings in 2010
2012: Team option for a third year at 15 mil with a 2 mil buyout (no guarantees on this one...Bedard is a scary gamble for the third year...history says the odds of his pitching three healthy seasons are nearly zero but I want to preserve the ability to grab him for 15 mil if he pitches well the first two years)
In other words...give him the power to control whether he stays in Seattle or not...let him pitch his way on or off the roster.
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