A New Player In the Sweepstakes For the Baltimore Orioles' Erik Bedard: The Seattle Mariners...

When the teams that lose out on the Johan Santana sweepstakes decide to move on the next target, they'll set their eyes on Erik Bedard.

Now, there's a new player in the Bedard sweepstakes -- the Seattle Mariners.

From the News Tribune (Seattle): The Mariners officially acknowledged they were out of the run for Johan Santana, and turned their attention to another coveted pitcher – Baltimore’s Erik Bedard.

Bedard isn’t nearly the marquee name Santana is, but he’s a 29-year-old left-hander with a 40-35 record and a 3.83 lifetime earned run average. Unfortuantely for Seattle, he’s hardly a secret.

Among the teams already pursuing Bedard are the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets, and the team that finishes second in the Santana derby is almost certain to join this fray.

As with Santana, Bedard will come dear – Orioles general manager Andy MacPhail wants to remake his roster by moving Bedard and shortstop Miguel Tejada. That means ready-for-the-majors talent.

For the Mariners, that means the same three treasured prospects: outfielder Adam Jones, right-handed pitcher Brandon Morrow and catcher Jeff Clement.

Forget the moment that might not be enough – is Bedard worth the cost?
Last year, he made $3.4 million and is arbitration-eligible this spring. He’s never pitched 200 innings in a season, never won more than 15 games in a season.

Business is about to pickup for the Baltimore Orioles. Like I have said before, if the Orioles can trade Bedard, considering the talks with him so far, I say do it.

An Ultimatum by Steinbrenner II: Hank Tells the Twins Take Or Leave It By Today…

Hank Steinbrenner, now in charge of the Yankees has made a proclamation again. This time he wants to the Twins to decide in his offer for Minnesota ace, Johan Santana or to table the motion.

According to ESPN's Jayson Stark:

The Yankees have told Minnesota their offer of Phil Hughes, Melky Cabrera and a respectable prospect for Johan Santana is a take-it-or-leave-it proposition, not a conversation-starter -- and they want an answer by the end of the day Monday, ESPN.com's Jayson Stark reports.

"This is not a bluff; it's just reality," Yankees senior VP Hank Steinbrenner told The New York Times Sunday night. "It's a fact. The Yankees will not be used to jack up the price on people -- whether by agents or other teams -- ever again. That's over."

Sources told ESPN's Buster Olney that the Red Sox are willing to include center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury in a deal, but they would not include Ellsbury and left-hander Jon Lester as part of the same deal.

Considering the 100-year plus war with the Red Sox, the Yankees are always subject to change their mind will do anything to play one-up on their arch-enemy.

However, I do have one question, for anyone in the know -- what's happened to George? Has he really given up all control?

The Santana Front: The Sox to Trade Ellsbury Too?

Well, I am covering the BB&T Basketball Tournament in Washington; however, in scouring the news a few minutes ago, it looks the Red Sox and Yankees are playing one-up-manship in the Santana talks.

In an effort to get one of the premier pitchers in baseball, the Red Sox have now shown the willingness to dangle Jacoby Ellsbury in a deal, but they will not throw Lester in with him.

From MSNBC: he Boston Red Sox have told the Minnesota Twins they are willing to include talented young center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury in any trade for pitcher Johan Santana, but are not willing to deal both Ellsbury and pitcher Jon Lester, according to an ESPN report.

Earlier reports had Boston offering Lester, outfielder Coco Crisp and minor league infielder Jed Lowrie, with the Twins countering that they wanted Ellsbury instead of Crisp. The Twins have also expressed interest in pitcher Clay Buchholz, but the Red Sox have not said they would trade him.

According to the report, the Yankees, the other big player in Santana talks, have told the Twins they will pull their off the table by Tuesday at the latest. The Yankees have reportedly offered pitcher Philip Hughes, outfielder Melky Cabrera and a second-tier minor league prospect.

Crazy. I think both teams should hold, and the Red Sox should not trade Ellsbury in conjunction with their prospects -- the price is too high.

Johan & Minnesota Don't See Eye to Eye; Francisco Cordero A Red For Big Money...

Well, it looks like Johan Santana remaining in Minnesota seems to be diminishing by the day. The Twins are attempting to keep one of the best arms in the game, but they are not getting cooperation from Santana and his people.

From CNNSI.com: "The Minnesota Twins recently offered superstar pitcher Johan Santana a four-year extension for about $80 million, SI.com has learned, leaving a sizable and significant gap in contract negotiations and perhaps even enhancing the chances that Santana may be traded this winter, possibly even by end of the Winter Meetings, which run from Dec. 3-7 in Nashville, Tenn.

The Twins have been telling people they will do their best to retain Santana, who is considered the sports' most dynamic pitcher and is still only 28. However, two executives on competing teams said they foresaw little likelihood the Twins could keep Santana long-term barring a stunning turnaround in negotiations, and one said he believed Santana is "out there'' already as a trade possibility."

The chatter should increase, and it looks like Santana not only wants a long term deal, but get paid -- and paid big time.

From CNNSI.com: "...While Santana's asking price isn't known, it is generally thought to be well in excess of the $126-million contract the Giants gave last winter to free agent pitcher Barry Zito, who isn't considered in Santana's league. It is believed that as a free agent next winter the lefthanded Santana could earn at least $150 million, or more, providing he stays on his current path of productivity. So the sides could be as much as $50 million apart, or even more."

Considering lack of reliable pitching and premier arms -- someone will pay him, rest assured.

***

The Cincinnati Reds had a horrendous bullpen in 2007, and on Friday they took steps to fix it.

With the market being as it is, the organization was proactive as they signed one of the best closers in the game in 2007.

According to ESPN: The Cincinnati Reds have reached preliminary agreement on a four-year, $46 million contract with closer Francisco Cordero, a baseball source confirmed Friday to ESPN.com.

The deal, which includes a club option for a fifth year, is subject to Cordero passing a physical exam. The agreement was first reported by Foxsports.com.

Cordero, 32, has 177 career saves in nine seasons with Detroit, Texas and Milwaukee. He ranked second in the National League with 44 saves last season in Milwaukee and made the National League All-Star team.

I'm not sure if this is the most prudent move signing a closer for years with the amount of money offered; however, the best arms want long-term deals, and the Reds gave in.

He'd turned down a 4 year, $42 million dollar deal from Milwaukee.

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