"Oft-injured left-handed starter Erik Bedard has agreed on a 1-year, non-guaranteed contract with the Mariners.

Other details of the contract haven't been mentioned, but it's likely to be highly incentive laden, considering he hasn't thrown a pitch in over a season and a half.

But the key term is "non-guaranteed" contract. Most MLB contracts are guaranteed contracts.

Really this is a low-risk, possibly high-reward move by GM Jack Zduriencik. Will Bedard ever be the pitcher that the Mariners hoped when they gave up five players to get him? It seems doubtful. But even if he's somewhere near his old form - that's pretty good. You can never have enough starting pitch depth. And really the Mariners rotation beyond Felix Hernandez is still unproven. Yes, Jason Vargas and Doug Fister had solid seasons last year. But there are not guarantees they will be as good this season.

Bedard gives them depth, and some hope - even it seems farfetched.

He worked very hard last season in trying to get back after having surgery to repair his labrum. And before the setback he was looking pretty solid."