The Bedard Deal: The Second Act of the Theater of the Absurd, the Role of Angelos...

I'm at the University of Maryland-Virginia game right now, and just was able to read the Sun online, and yes, things are even getting more bizarre.

Perhaps the newest story might a CYA excuse, or it might be true, but as most fans can probably gather, the Bedard deal has hit a snag.

Of course, that's the understatement of the week.

From the Sun: Orioles owner Peter Angelos didn't veto a proposed trade that would have sent ace pitcher Erik Bedard to the Seattle Mariners for a package headed by young outfielder Adam Jones, team president Andy MacPhail said today.

Asked if Angelos was responsible for nixing a deal, MacPhail responded, "No." He wouldn't elaborate further or provide details on why the talks appear to have hit a snag.

It's believed that the two sides agreed to the framework of a trade that would have sent Bedard to the Mariners for Jones, left-handed reliever George Sherrill and 19-year-old starter Chris Tillman, along with at least one other player. Jones told a reporter in Venezuela on Sunday that the deal was complete and he was headed to Baltimore for a physical.

And, my favorite part...

... The change in events led to an industry-wide perception -- and several Internet and newspaper reports -- that Angelos is holding up the deal. But the reports have been based more on the Orioles owner's reputation than any concrete evidence.

"This is vintage Angelos," said one baseball executive who requested anonymity. "It is probably the first time that Andy has had to deal with something like this. I don't want to say it is a bad philosophy, but [Angelos] is one of those guys who doesn't like to make a deal unless he absolutely knows it is the right one. That's a fine way to practice in the real world, but that doesn't work in our world. We don't play in the real world."

Not to add more fuel on the fire, but this move needs to be done for the viability of the team and the fanbase -- thus, a lot of people have their opinions, and they want Roberts and Bedard to stay; however, when you overturn your roster and get 9, 10, 11, 12 players for 3 to help in the rebuild process -- you do it.