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I'm no Bavasi fan, so my expectations were a bit lowered on that trade. He gave up more than the Mets gave up for Johan Santana, which isn't a big deal I guess if he also didn't give up more than Arizona gave up for Dan Haren (whos was younger, with a FAR better shot at staying healthy, and more arbitration years).
That offseason I was in favor of targetting Dan Haren or throwing the entire system to the Giants for Tim Lincecum. Bedard's injury risk concerned me, but considering Bavasi's overall skill as a GM, I was just happy that he was targetting an impact player. The fact that it was a buyer's market probably saved us from it being a worse trade than it ended up being. Bavasi gave up more that offseason than any GM did for impact starter, but that was expected.
Even so, I'm not feeling the burn as much I thought I would. Jones isn't looking like that great of a defender in CF and I think his OPS is still due for some regression. Guys with 73.8 Contact rates don't hit .300 (and Jone's current BABIP is .354). Heck they usually don't hit .270 unless they've got MASSIVE HR power.
So if you're talking a RH 835ish OPS OFielder in Baltimore with passable defense in CF and a well above-average glove in a corner what does that translate to in Safeco? I could definetly visualize Gabe Gross being more productive or at least equally productive THIS year in Safeco, and long-term you have a bunch of viable options in the OF that are a better fit for the park.
Bedard wasn't my first choice and I'm not suprised that Bavasi overpaid. Still, if the Ms lock him up while the economy is low, I'm not sure thats that bad of a deal.
It gives you a good sense of the market. In an extreme buyer's market this year (even more so then that offseason), I think the BUYING teams are going to come ahead in a lot of these deadline deals. Heck, its already happening with the Nate McLouth trade. You can't tell me you don't absolutely love that trade for the Braves?