Erik Bedard News & Rumors: Pro Sports Daily

December 7

MLB Trade Rumors

"The Pirates have agreed to sign lefty Erik Bedard, MLBTR has confirmed. Canadian journalist Marc Brassard first tweeted news of an impending $4.5MM deal. Bedard, 32, is coming off his healthiest season since 2007. This year for the Mariners and Red Sox he posted a 3.62 ERA, 8.7 K/9, 3.3 BB/9, 0.97 HR/9, and 42% groundball rate in 129 1/3 innings. He missed time with knee and lat sprains, which wasn't too bad after shoulder surgeries limited him to 164 innings for 2008-09. The signing has upside for the Pirates, who needed some depth after losing Paul Maholm to free agency. Additionally, Charlie Morton had hip surgery in October and could miss the start of the season."

Tito may Yank Bedard

September 21

Boston Herald

"Before last night's 7-5 loss to the Orioles, Red Sox manager Terry Francona contemplated moving Erik Bedard ahead of John Lackey in the next turn of the rotation. The move was contingent on how Bedard looked last night in his first start since Sept. 3. Francona couldn't have seen anything that would inspire much confidence. While Bedard was victimized by a costly Josh Reddick error that should have ended the third inning, the pitcher unraveled afterward. "You do the best you can," said Bedard, who reported no problems with the knee and lat injuries that sidelined him. "It happens. People make errors, and it's part of the game. You just try to limit the damage.""

New ailments for Youk, Bedard, Lackey

September 10

Boston Herald

"The Red Sox [team stats]' injury list continues to pile up. Yesterday, both Kevin Youkilis [stats] and Erik Bedard were in Boston receiving treatment on their new injuries, and then John Lackey was knocked out of his start early last night. Youkilis received an injection to alleviate discomfort from a case of bursitis he is experiencing in his left hip, a problem that flared up in Thursday night's series finale in Toronto. Depending on how Youkilis responds to the shot, he could wind up flying here before first pitch tonight if he and the Sox feel he could help the team, even if that's in a pinch-hitting role. Bedard was expected back here late last night, after he was examined for a"

Bedard to skip next start

September 6

Boston Globe

"Erik Bedard picked up his first victory for the Red Sox Saturday, going six innings against the Rangers. But the lefthander also aggravated his injured left knee and will skip his next start. "I'm not concerned. It's just sore. I just don't want to make it too bad for later in the season and the playoffs,'' Bedard said yesterday. "It's not bad. It hurts a little bit once in a while and a little more in the last start. I'll just take a start off.''"

Bedard to miss a start

September 6

Boston Herald

"Before Josh Beckett sprained his right ankle early in yesterday's 1-0 loss in 11 innings to the Toronto Blue Jays, the Red Sox had taken measures to protect another ailing starter. Erik Bedard will skip his next start, scheduled for Friday against the Tampa Bay Rays in St. Petersburg, Fla., to rest his left knee. With Bedard very much in the mix to be the No.?3 starter in any playoff series and the club holding a comfortable breathing margin in their hunt for a postseason berth, there was mutual agreement on the decision. "I think it's a positive thing — we're going to skip one start and go from there," Bedard said. "We have enough starters, it's not going to hurt us. So, skip a start, see"

Erik Bedard, John Lackey bolstering Sox rotation

August 29

Boston Herald

"From a distance, Texas Rangers infielder Michael Young had a two-word reaction last month when he heard the Red Sox [team stats] traded for left-hander Erik Bedard. Great move. Everyone knows solid pitching is paramount to a long postseason run, and the way Young sees it, the trade-deadline addition of Bedard and John Lackey's improved health have made the Red Sox stronger in the middle of a rotation fronted by the lefty-righty punch of Jon Lester [stats] and Josh Beckett [stats]. Young is somewhat of an expert, too. During a 12-year career spent entirely in Texas, he hasn't faced any pitcher more often than Lackey (98 plate appearances), a longtime member of the Los Angeles Angels. And"

Erik Bedard pitches in

August 10

Boston Herald

"Last weekend, Bruins coach Claude Julien brought the Stanley Cup to his parents' home in Navan, Ontario, a small village near Ottawa. By November, residents there might be able to share another Boston title. If the Red Sox fulfill their lofty expectations and win the World Series, left-hander Erik Bedard likely will have played a significant role. Born and raised in Navan, Bedard was acquired from the Seattle Mariners in a July 31 trade to replace the injured Clay Buchholz and help bolster the rotation. No pressure. For now, though, the Red Sox are content to take things slowly with their new pitcher. Bedard is three starts removed from a month-long stint on the disabled list, and so,"

An encouraging start for Erik Bedard

August 5

Boston Globe

"Erik Bedard went five innings tonight. He allowed three runs on seven hits with five strikeouts and no walks. It was 3-3 when he left and the Sox went in to lose 7-3. All in all, it was an encouraging outing, especially considering he was with a new team and making his second start since coming off the disabled list. One of the hits was in the infield. Another was a grounder through the hole at shortstop and a third was a broken-bat flare to right. It was interesting to see Bedard pause a few times in the first inning and look around Fenway Park before he threw a pitch. It was almost like he wanted to soak up the atmosphere of his new home. "I was a little nervous in the first, but I kept"

Bedard strikes positive tone

August 5

Boston Globe

"The largest Fenway Park crowd in the post-World War II era (38,477) came out to watch Erik Bedard make his Red Sox debut last night. The 32-year-old lefthander was thrown into the breach after he was acquired from Seattle just before Sunday's non-waiver trade deadline. So Bedard could not be blamed if he felt a little anxious before taking the mound against the Indians, in a game the Sox lost, 7-3. "I was a little nervous in the first,'' said Bedard, who took a no-decision after going five innings and allowing three runs on seven hits, throwing 70 pitches (49 for strikes) while striking out five and walking none. "But I just kept my composure and kept throwing strikes.'' It was a vast"

Erik Bedard does A-OK

August 5

Boston Herald

"Erik Bedard retired seven batters in a row. His control was precise. And Red Sox catcher Jason Varitek said his fastball and curve got sharper from the first inning through the fifth. Bedard also barely pitched in the past month. So, the newest member of the Sox' starting rotation huddled with manager Terry Francona after the fifth inning last night and agreed that enough was enough. His conservative pitch count having reached 70, in what Francona said amounted to a rehab start, Bedard was done. Turns out, the Red Sox were done, too. The Indians battered lefty relievers Franklin Morales and Andrew Miller and emerged with a 7-3 victory and a split of the four-game series at Fenway Park. The"

Ex-coach: Erik Bedard will give an old college try

August 4

Boston Herald

"Upon hearing last Sunday that Erik Bedard had been traded to the Red Sox, Mark Lambert immediately recalled a conversation over dinner with the left-hander a few years ago. "I remember him saying, 'I like Boston. I could see myself playing there. I'm sure it would be a lot of fun,'?" Lambert, Bedard's former coach at Norwalk (Conn.) Community College, said by phone yesterday. "That was the first thing I thought of. It's pretty neat that he ended up there." Almost as neat as the way Lambert discovered Bedard. In need of a catcher, Lambert contacted a player from a small town in Ontario who had been recommended by a friend. And two days before Roch Sequin was set to visit Norwalk and try"

Bedard glad to be moving up

August 3

Boston Globe

"Erik Bedard watched the clock Sunday, the day of baseball's non-waiver trade deadline, waiting to hear what was in store for him. He had pitched 1 2/3 innings two days earlier, his last-place Mariners showing off their tradeable commodity to a collection of scouts/shoppers. He was fresh off the disabled list and hadn't pitched in more than a month. The Tampa Bay Rays were unsympathetic, though, tagging him for five runs. He threw all of 57 pitches. He walked four batters. It was the 18th loss in 19 games for the Mariners."

Don't rush to judgment on Erik Bedard debut

August 3

Boston Herald

"Expectations will likely be through the roof when Erik Bedard makes his Red Sox debut tomorrow night in the series finale against the Cleveland Indians. The Sox, however, have the yellow caution flag out. The team is preaching patience because Clay Buchholz' replacement is simply not far enough removed from a knee injury that forced him to miss a month of action this season. It may take a couple of starts before everyone sees the pitcher everyone wants to see. "We want to help get him to where he can pitch like he can pitch and it might take a little while to do that," manager Terry Francona said before last night's 3-2 win. "He's got 12/3 starting innings under his belt, he's got no rehab"

Bedard to get the call Thursday

August 2

Boston Globe

"Although Erik Bedard will not report to the Red Sox until today, manager Terry Francona said last night that the 32-year-old lefthander, who was acquired from the Mariners Sunday, will make his debut Thursday night against the Indians at Fenway Park. The move pushes Jon Lester to Friday night's opener of a three-game series against the Yankees, with John Lackey going Saturday and Josh Beckett Sunday vs. the Yankees, who pulled within one game of the Red Sox in the American League East after Boston's 9-6 loss to the Indians last night. "We don't have a day off until we leave to go to Seattle, so up to that point, we'll kind of stick with six starters,'' said Francona, who indicated Andrew"

Erik Bedard is 'recipe for disaster'

August 2

Boston Herald

columnist Gerry Callahan

"The Red Sox' long and arduous search for a starting pitcher is finished, Erik Bedard is on his way to Fenway Park, and now begins an even more daunting task: finding someone who believes Bedard is a good fit in Boston. It was two minutes before the trade deadline Sunday when Theo Epstein acquired Bedard from Seattle, and it was about two minutes after the deadline that we began to wonder why. Maybe Theo couldn't coax Matt Young out of retirement. Maybe the Sox decided John Lackey needed another ornery 32-year-old out of the AL West to keep him company. Or maybe they were so desperate for a starter to replace Clay Buchholz that they settled for a square peg and will try to jam him into a"

Sox acquire Bedard from Mariners

August 1

Boston Globe

"If back specialist Dr. Robert Watkins agrees with the Red Sox' thinking that it's best to shut Clay Buchholz down for the remainder of the season after he examines him today in Los Angeles, then yesterday's acquisition, lefthander Erik Bedard, will have some big shoes to fill. "We had a clear need for a starting pitcher,'' said general manager Theo Epstein. "And we would not have been satisfied if we had the deadline pass without getting a starter. And we were willing to dig deep into our farm system to make that happen. And we wanted to make sure the acquisition cost was appropriate for the acquisition itself. Time will tell, but we hope that's the case here.'' Buchholz was moved to the"

Report: Red Sox are 'all over' Bedard

July 29

Seattle Post-Intelligencer

"The Mariners have been scouting the Boston Red Sox farm system recently, apparently in preparation for a trade of left-hander Erik Bedard, Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi of FoxSports.com reported.

The Red Sox are "all over" Bedard despite questions about his health, a source told Rosenthal . Bedrard is scheduled to return from the disabled list Friday against the Tampa Bay Rays at Safeco Field. It will be his only start before the July 31 trade deadline and his first since June 27. Rosenthal reported that the Red Sox and New York Yankees will scout Bedard's start Friday. Bedard, 4-6 with a 3.00 ERA in 15 starts this season, is recovering from a sprained knee. He was"

Bedard watch heating up

July 29

Boston Globe

"The Red Sox will be watching closely tonight when Erik Bedard takes the mound for the Mariners against the Rays. The lefthander may be the key to the Sox' plans for the trade deadline. With Clay Buchholz dealing with a back injury that could keep him out for the remainder of the season, the Sox are trying to obtain a starter before Sunday's non-waiver deadline, according to major league sources. Bedard, 32, is 4-6 with a 3.00 earned run average in 15 starts and has only $352,000 remaining on his contract for this season. He has made just 45 starts over the last four seasons because of injuries, but has five years of experience in the American League East, having started his career with"

Red Sox focused on Bedard

July 28

Foxsports.com

"The Mariners had two scouts watching the Red Sox's Triple A affiliate on Wednesday night and one watching the Sox's Double A club, according to major-league sources. The extent of trade discussions between the teams is not known, but several Mariners pitchers are drawing significant interest from multiple clubs – and right-hander Doug Fister, in particular, is a target of virtually every team seeking rotation help, sources said. However, the Sox's primary focus could be left-hander Erik Bedard, who has not pitched since June 27 due to a strained left knee but will come off the disabled list Friday night against the Rays. The Sox are "all over" Bedard, one source said, and both the Sox and"

Erik Bedard will start Friday vs. Rays

July 26

Seattle Times

"Mariners left-handed pitcher Erik Bedard is scheduled to come off the disabled list Friday and start against the Tampa Bay Rays at Safeco Field. Bedard has been out since June 28 with a sprained knee and can make only the one start before the July 31 trade deadline. Mariners manager Eric Wedge said Bedard will be on a pitch-count limit but did not want to specify how many he would be limited to. Another pitcher recovering from injury, reliever Shawn Kelley, is to leave Tuesday for Tacoma and pitch for the Class AAA Rainiers on Wednesday. It will be the second attempt at a rehabilitation outing for Kelley after the first was aborted due to arm stiffness."

Bedard, Kelley have good workouts

July 24

Seattle Times

"Erik Bedard threw a two-inning simulated game Saturday and will likely start for the Mariners next weekend against the Tampa Bay Rays if there are no ill effects from his outing. Bedard said he felt good in throwing roughly 40 pitches with batters standing in to face him before Seattle's game against the Boston Red Sox. Afterward, manager Eric Wedge said he doesn't see a need for a second simulated game - as long as Bedard feels fine Sunday morning. Shawn Kelley also threw two 15-pitch innings in between Bedard's sessions and looked surprisingly strong. So much so the team now may send him out on a minor-league rehabilitation assignment rather than bringing him to New York City next week"

Bedard could come off DL for next homestand

July 23

Seattle Times

"Erik Bedard is scheduled to throw a simulated game on Saturday, and could return from the disabled list during the team's upcoming homestand. Mariners manager Eric Wedge said Friday that Bedard will throw 40 to 45 pitches over two innings as he prepares to return from a sprained knee suffered on June 28 against Atlanta. Wedge wouldn't say whether Bedard would make a start for the Mariners before the July 31 trade deadline. "It's more about him kind of working his way back up, seeing some hitters and just feeling good," Wedge said. Bedard would be able to make one start at most before the deadline. He could still be dealt in August, but would have to clear waivers first. Other Mariners"

Bedard closer to return

July 21

Seattle Times

"Mariners left-hander Erik Bedard is unlikely to pitch in a game on this trip and will make only one start before the July 31 trade deadline. Bedard threw 45 pitches in a bullpen session before Wednesday night's 11-6 loss to Toronto. Although he looked sharp, the coaching staff wants him to throw a simulated game to build endurance after missing more than three weeks of action. "What we have to remember is, when he goes into a game, he might throw 30 pitches to warm up, so this was only about 15 more than that," pitching coach Carl Willis said. "Ideally, you want him in there against live hitters as well, since he hasn't thrown in a game for that much time." Bedard should get up to around"

Erik Bedard's return could be pushed back

July 20

Seattle Times

"Mariners starting pitcher Erik Bedard might not make it to the mound in Boston this weekend after all. The Mariners have said for more than a week that they were hoping Bedard would come off the disabled list and pitch at Fenway Park. But Mariners manager Eric Wedge on Tuesday said he might have Bedard throw a simulated game after Wednesday's scheduled bullpen session. Wedge was asked whether a simulated game would cause Bedard's return to be delayed until after the Boston series. "Realistically, yeah," he said. "If he throws a bullpen and then has to throw a simulated game, we'll probably push him back a little bit, yeah." Bedard was considered one of the more probable Mariners to be"

Bedard's balky knee a problem

July 10

Tacoma News Tribune

"The knee injury few people realized he had will keep Seattle Mariners pitcher Erik Bedard out longer than anyone expected. After straining his left knee during his June 28 start, the veteran left-hander was initially scheduled to return to the rotation immediately after the All-Star break. That's no longer the plan. Manager Eric Wedge said his veteran will miss at least one post All-Star start and that he was just beginning to play catch again. "We'll get him throwing on flat ground a few more times, give him a couple of bullpens and he'll be ready," Wedge said. "Blake (Beavan) will get that next start in Erik's spot." The injury to Bedard has not been diagnosed as serious, but the"

Bedard will miss series against Texas

July 10

Seattle Times

"Mariners pitcher Erik Bedard won't be returning off the disabled list to start against the Texas Rangers after the All-Star break as initially hoped. Bedard has been out with what the team says is a mild sprain of his left knee and the hope had been that he could start the third or fourth game against the Rangers. But manager Eric Wedge said Saturday that was no longer the case. "It looks like (Blake) Beavan is going to get one more start," Wedge said of the rookie, who has made two starts in Bedard's place."

Bedard, Gimenez head to disabled list

June 30

Tacoma News Tribune

"All major league teams like to talk about depth in their system, and the Seattle Mariners are testing theirs behind the plate - where they have now gone five deep. Miguel Olivo had a magnetic resonance imaging test on his left thigh and was unavailable to play Wednesday, and backup Chris Gimenez was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a badly strained left oblique. "I don't know how he played the last four innings (Tuesday)," manager Eric Wedge of Gimenez, "but he's going to miss significant time." The Mariners called up both of Tacoma's catchers, Josh Bard and Jose Yepez, and while Gimenez cleared one spot for them, Seattle added lefty Erik Bedard to the 15-day DL to make room for"

What to do with Erik Bedard?

June 29

Seattle Times

columnist Steve Kelley

"Against the Atlanta Braves on Monday night, Erik Bedard pitched well enough to win, which is something you can say almost every night about almost every Mariners starter. But how bad is this offense? The Sounders have scored as many goals (11) in their past six league games as the Mariners had scored runs in their past six, leading up to Tuesday night's meeting with Atlanta. Bedard made two mistakes in Monday's 3-1 loss, and the Braves punished both of them. Still, watching him pitch has been one of the great treats of this season. He has allowed 14 earned runs in his past 11 starts. After pitching only 11 painful innings in the minor leagues last season, after shoulder surgery and after"

Gutierrez, Bedard lead Mariners to victory

May 26

Tacoma News Tribune

"The Seattle Mariners are as hot a team as they've been in years, winning five of six games on the road despite a lack of production from the top of their lineup. When Erik Bedard, David Pauley and Brandon League shut down the opposition, and Franklin Guiterrez homered and scored twice, the Mariners beat the Minnesota Twins, 3-0. And did it without Ichiro Suzuki or Chone Figgins reaching base. "We'll get Ichiro and Figgy going again," manager Eric Wedge said. "It's a long season, and at various times the top third of your lineup, the middle third and the bottom third will get hot. "Eventually, we want to be consistent one-through-nine. We're not there yet. Winning without much help up top,"

Erik Bedard makes believers of Twins

May 26

Seattle Times

"Erik Bedard had no qualms about turning the ball over to David Pauley six innings into his latest scoreless outing. Bedard has gone 15 consecutive innings without allowing a run, dating to May 8 against the Chicago White Sox. But he knew the one guy just as likely to put up zeros was none other than Pauley. "It's easy to leave the game to him," Bedard said. "He just puts up zeroes. It's fun to have a guy like that in the bullpen. You can always rely on him and it makes it easier on everybody." Pauley extended his own scoreless innings streak to 11 with two more frames in this one, lowering his earned-run average to 0.95. He's held opponents scoreless in 14 of 17 appearances."

Mariners win - again - as Bedard pitches another solid seven

May 4

Seattle Post-Intelligencer

"Just so we're clear: yes, that was Erik Bedard taking a no-hitter into the sixth inning on Tuesday, despite a 33-pitch first frame that threatened to prevent him from a second consecutive venture into the seventh inning. And yes, that was the Seattle Mariners offense bailing out its bullpen with a string of clutch hits in the bottom of the eighth inning, Jack Cust pouncing on a first-pitch curveball from Rangers reliever Darren Oliver to drive home the game's winning run. It just didn't look like them. Or, maybe now that the Mariners have won six of their last seven games, taking a 4-3 win over the Texas Rangers at Safeco Field on Tuesday, we should treat these occurrences as signs that"

Mariners' Erik Bedard earns first win since 2009

April 28

Seattle Times

"This was the Erik Bedard some younger Mariners fans had only heard rumors about. The guy who used to throw seven strong innings more than once every couple of years. A pitcher who when healthy — as he was in a 10-1 win over the Detroit Tigers on Wednesday night — could compete right up there with the best in all of baseball. Bedard didn't need to be baseball's best on a night the free-swinging Tigers gave away outs the way the Mariners handed over players to Baltimore in a 5-for-1 trade for the southpaw pitcher three years ago. But it was a huge step forward from the five-inning stuff Bedard had offered up his first few weeks back from the shoulder problems that have derailed much of his"

Mighty rookie strikes out as M's rally falls short; Bedard now 0-4

April 21

Tacoma News Tribune

"In the very first start of his major league career, Carlos Peguero got the chance to be a hero. With two outs and the Seattle Mariners trailing 3-2 and Michael Saunders standing on second representing the tying run, the young slugging prospect stepped to the plate with a chance to either tie or win the game. Facing hard-throwing Detroit Tigers closer Jose Valverde, it was clear from the start that Peguero had a simple approach - hit the ball, and hit it as hard as possible. Was he capable of walk-off heroics? Of course, after all, it was just a few weeks earlier that Peguero had launched a ball over the batter's eye beyond the center field wall during a Tacoma Rainiers workout at Safeco"

Erik Bedard falls to 0-4 as Detroit stops Mariners' ninth-inning rally

April 21

Seattle Times

"Mariners manager Eric Wedge talked before Wednesday's game about seeking "small steps" and "small victories" from Erik Bedard in his ongoing comeback from three shoulder operations. Bedard may indeed have made some positive steps in his subsequent five-inning stint, but for his fourth straight start, Bedard found victory elusive. He fell to 0-4 for the season as the Tigers turned back a ninth-inning Seattle rally to edge the Mariners, 3-2, before an afternoon crowd of 13,339 at Safeco Field. The Mariners' loss, coupled with Boston's win at Oakland, gave Seattle the worst winning percentage in the American League (.316) for the first time this season. The Mariners cut the Detroit lead to"

Bedard back on the mound, but Rangers beat Mariners 6-4

April 5

Seattle Times

"Erik Bedard wasn't about to moan about his right fielder not catching the ball. Nor was he beefing about the inability of his fellow Mariners to finish off innings at the plate in which they kept things close, but couldn't quite go the distance. About the only thing Bedard was really feeling after a 6-4 loss to the Texas Rangers on Monday night was happiness at getting to play baseball again. As he's said all spring, he's a lucky man, fortunate to be back on the mound after three shoulder surgeries in three years. And for most of his five innings against a power-laden Texas Rangers lineup, he was pretty much the same, unflappable guy he's always been once the game begins. "I try to be the"

At least Bedard pitches well

April 5

Tacoma News Tribune

"For the return of Erik Bedard, the Seattle Mariners brought out their bats Monday, only to have the Texas Rangers one-up them and bring out their runs. At one point in the eighth inning, the Mainers had 10 hits to the Rangers' five, and still trailed by two runs before losing, 6-4. "We're creating opportunities to score, but we've got to do a better job finishing innings," Seattle manager Eric Wedge said. "I was real pleased with Erik tonight. He hadn't been out there in a long time, and he had the same rhythm and tempo we saw all spring. "He pitched well. We made some mistakes behind him." Ah, mistakes. One was not scoring enough runs, and if Wedge thinks, after four games, that his"

Efficient Bedard continues to impress

March 21

Tacoma News Tribune

"Erik Bedard was so efficient Sunday he came up 18 pitches short of his goal, but threw such a clean five innings the Seattle Mariners didn't mind. "You're never disappointed with efficiency," Bedard said after throwing 62 pitches. "I got a couple of double plays, they hit a few balls hard right at people. I'll take a double play every inning." With two starts left in camp for him, Bedard is healthy, happy and showing the Mariners what they'd hoped to see, well, each of the past three seasons. "I was healthy when I got here, then the first season started and I crumbled," Bedard said. "It's like I haven't been right since." Bedard pitched five innings, allowed one run on a home run, walked"

Bedard earns spot - likely No. 4 - in Mariners' rotation

March 16

Tacoma News Tribune

"Erik Bedard pitched in a minor-league game Tuesday and worked his way into a spot in the Seattle Mariners' rotation. Where, precisely, will the veteran left-hander fit? "It won't be first or second, and it won't be fifth," pitching coach Carl Willis said. If the season were to start this week, manager Eric Wedge likely would try to go right-left-right-left with his starters when possible, although that rotation could change. Given that Felix Hernandez is the opening day starter and lefty Jason Vargas follows him, it's likely the next two starters would be righty Doug Fister and then Bedard. That fifth spot? With veteran Nate Robertson sidelined by elbow surgery, there are four candidates,"

Erik Bedard throws 3-1/3 innings in intrasquad game against minor-leaguers

March 16

Seattle Times

"Mariners starting pitcher Erik Bedard allowed a pair of home runs, while striking out six batters over 3-1/3 innings of an intrasquad game against minor-leaguers Tuesday morning at the Peoria Sports Complex. Tuesday was an off day for the Mariners, but Bedard continued to work his way back from shoulder surgery. He didn't walk any batters during his 66-pitch outing, and the only runs he allowed were two solo homers by first baseman Rich Poythress, the team's second-round pick in 2009. Poythress hit 31 homers and added 130 runs batted in for Class A High Desert last season."

Bedard's spring start real beauty

February 28

Tacoma News Tribune

"The first spring appearance in two years for Erik Bedard took less time - and fewer pitches - than were required for him to warm up Sunday. The Seattle Mariners lefty shook off emotional cobwebs and worked a 1-2-3 inning against the San Diego Padres, and did it in nine pitches. "That's going to be tough to build on," Bedard deadpanned. "It's not going to be like that every time." Bedard started Seattle's first spring game intent on building arm strength, and was prepared to throw as many as 25 pitches, he said. No need. Throwing fastballs and curveballs for strikes, he retired Will Venable, Everth Cabrera and Jorge Cantu without a ball being hit hard. "I was a little excited warming up,""

Mariners pitcher Erik Bedard: Version 2.011

February 27

Tacoma News Tribune

"Erik Bedard is scheduled to pitch an inning today in the charity game between the Seattle Mariners and San Diego Padres - which would be one inning more than he had all of spring 2010. What will mean? For one thing, the issue today isn't whether Bedard is healthy - he is. Under pitching coach Carl Willis, the lefty hasn't missed a drill or bullpen session all spring. Manager Eric Wedge isn't holding Bedard back, isn't worrying about his elbow or shoulder, his hip or his attitude. This spring, Bedard is here to prove he can pitch, not that he's healthy. Signed to a low-risk contract last winter, Bedard wanted to return to Seattle more than he wanted to pitch in any of the other teams that"

Bedard 'feels great' as he rehabs; M's to wear Niehaus patch

January 28

Seattle Post-Intelligencer

"Mariners trainer Rick Griffin met with the media today as part of the team's pre-Spring Training media luncheon, and he gave us the most recent information about all of the club's injury woes. Of most significance is the progress of pitcher Erik Bedard, who missed all of last season following shoulder surgery. Griffin said Bedard's throwing program is going fine, and that the left-hander is currently able to throw from 100 feet for 12 minutes at a time. By Spring Training, Bedard will have thrown two flat-ground and two bullpen sessions of 40 pitches each. Griffin said Bedard "feels great, pain free, excited about how he feels." He's expected to compete for a spot in the rotation."

Erik Bedard signs 1-year deal with Mariners

December 3

Tacoma News Tribune

"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"

M's decline options on Lopez, Branyan, Bedard

November 4

Tacoma News Tribune

"The Seattle Mariners reshaped their 2011 plans Wednesday, declining contract options on Jose Lopez, Russell Branyan and Erik Bedard while trimming their 40-man roster to 30. Outfielder Ryan Langerhans and catcher Guillermo Quiroz declined outright minor league assignments and became free agents, right-handed pitcher Brian Sweeney was claimed off waivers by the Arizona Diamondbacks and pitchers Ryan Feierabend, Chris Seddon and Sean White were outrighted to Tacoma. The decision to decline the options on Lopez, Branyan and Bedard saved the Mariners $17 million. It also made Bedard and Branyan free agents, while Lopez remains arbitration-eligible and under team control. The team will pursue"

Mariners decline options on Jose Lopez, Russell Branyan, Erik Bedard

November 4

Seattle Times

"Russell Branyan says his back feels great and he's ready to begin working out in preparation of playing for somebody in 2011. That might not be the Mariners after the team on Wednesday declined contract options on Branyan, pitcher Erik Bedard and third baseman Jose Lopez. Branyan and Bedard are free agents, and the Mariners have until Dec. 2 to tender a contract to arbitration-eligible Lopez if they plan to keep him. Branyan said he was informed a couple of days in advance that the Mariners would not be picking up his $5 million option. Seattle allowed Branyan to become a free agent last year, and he eventually signed an incentive-laden deal with Cleveland before the Mariners traded for"

Mariners have until Thursday night to exercise options on Jose Lopez, Russell Branyan, Erik Bedard

November 3

Seattle Times

"They've yet to throw the World Series parade in San Francisco and already the winter Hot Stove season is about to hit full-throttle. The Mariners have until 9 p.m. Thursday to decide whether to exercise 2011 contract options on third baseman Jose Lopez, designated hitter Russell Branyan and pitcher Erik Bedard. New changes to the Major League Baseball collective-bargaining agreement also mean teams have only until Saturday night to negotiate exclusively with pending free agents — 10 days fewer than before. The rule changes could have a big impact on teams such as the Boston Red Sox, where third baseman Adrian Beltre and catcher Victor Martinez are among the bigger names poised to hit the"

So far, so good a day after Bedard's latest surgery

August 8

Tacoma News Tribune

"It's an all too familiar sight for the Seattle Mariners and their fans - Erik Bedard with his left arm in a sling. The left-hander was back at Safeco Field on Saturday, his arm immobilized yet again, a day after having his third surgery on his left shoulder in as many years. "Three years in a row," Bedard said looking at the apparatus. "I'm getting pretty tired of it." But for the moment it looks like this may be the last time Bedard will wear the sling for quite a while. Initial reports on the procedure, which was performed by team surgeon Dr. Edward Khalfayan and assisted by Dr. Lewis Yocum, described it as a success. Bedard had a large bone spur in his AC (acromioclavicular) joint"

Bedard says he's done for season, M's won't say

July 22

Tacoma News Tribune

"While Erik Bedard thinks he is done for the season, the Seattle Mariners and manager Don Wakamatsu won't say that … yet. The left-hander, acquired from the Baltimore Orioles, before the 2008 seasons for five players, suffered another setback in his recovery from offseason surgery to repair a torn labrum in his throwing shoulder. Bedard underwent a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) tests on Monday, but by Wednesday, there was no definitive prognosis. Wakamatsu said that team doctor, Dr. Edward Khalfayan, and Bedard's surgeon, Dr. Lewis Yocum, were still looking at and discussing the results of the MRI. "It's still kind of up in the air," Wakamatsu said. "I know the MRI showed some"

Erik Bedard says he's "probably not" going to pitch this season

July 21

Seattle Times

"The team is keeping tight lips on the results of Erik Bedard's MRI exam. But the fact that he is consulting with both his surgeon, Dr. Lewis Yocum, and the Mariners' medical director, Dr. Edward Khalfayan, is a tipoff that the news can't have been great. In fact, right after the game, as Bedard was about to hurriedly exit the clubhouse, I asked him whether there was any good news from the exam. "No, not really,'' he said. When I asked him what the exam found, he said "You'll have to ask the doctor.'' As he was walking out the door, I asked whether it looks like he's going to pitch at all this season. He replied "Probably not.'' That's when he left. So, there goes another potential "feel"