The Latest Bedard News: At A Standstill?

Well, here's the latest from Roch's blog. Considering everything that has been going on since the season ended, could we have expected less than a drama with a litany of twists and turns?

From the Baltimore Sun (Roch's Blog): "Orioles executive Andy MacPhail wasn't kidding when he told The Sun last night that he didn't expect Adam Jones to arrive in Baltimore today for a physical. Or to sample the steamed crabs and a Natty Boh.

You'll want to check out this story on the Web site of the Mariners' flagship radio station.

Am I surprised that Jones isn't here? Absolutely not. Did I expect him to remain in Venezuela? Absolutely not.

I assumed that he returned to the U.S.

If I'm the manager of Jones' winter league team in Venezuela, I'm afraid to write his name in the lineup.

Jones apparently is backpedaling now and denying that he told a reporter in Venezuela that he had been traded to the Orioles. George Sherrill can't seem to decide whether he was instructed to take a physical in Baltimore.

My take: Jones and Sherrill were told to stop talking so much. There isn't a deal in place at the moment. They're still property of the Seattle Mariners, just as Erik Bedard continues to be slated as the Orioles' Opening Day starter until told otherwise. And it has nothing to do with pending physicals."

And the Sun's Jeff Zrebeic notes that the deal is at a standstill.

"Talks between the Seattle Mariners and Orioles about a trade involving ace pitcher Erik Bedard are at a standstill.

A source familiar with the talks said a potential deal is being held up on the Orioles' end and unspecified complex issues still need to be resolved for the trade to go through. One of those might be Orioles president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail getting the approval of club owner Peter Angelos.

Mariners center fielder Adam Jones, the centerpiece of the Seattle offer for Bedard, was originally expected to be in Baltimore later Monday in preparation for a physical Tuesday, according to a club source. However, those plans have been scuttled, an indication that the deal has either hit a snag or is currently on hold.

The Orioles currently don't have a physical scheduled for Jones, the source said.

"We are where we were last night," said MacPhail on Monday. "We have no agreement."

MacPhail said that he didn't expect any developments for a couple of days. Asked if an agreement could be pending, MacPhail said, "I don't know."

A source indicated that the Mariners and Orioles have agreed to the general framework of the deal, which would send Jones, veteran reliever George Sherrill, 19-year-old pitching prospect Chris Tillman and one or two other prospects to the Orioles for Bedard."

Well, I would have not have expected any less from this deal. Of course, stay tuned...