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One thing realignment has unquestionably changed over the years is the approach mediocre teams take at the trading deadline. With eight playoff spots up for grabs, teams that can hang around .500 at the All-Star break are still considered postseason contenders. At the end of June, then, few teams are firmly in the trading deadline "seller" category.
The Mariners, having cleaned house in the front office and on the coaching staff and sitting nearly 20 games out of a playoff spot, were the first team to fall into the mix of sure sellers. That became obvious last week when the Mariners let it be known to all teams that their big offseason acquisition -- lefty Erik Bedard -- is readily available in exchange for young players.
The Mariners can't expect to get much in return for Bedard, certainly not as much as they gave the Orioles (outfielder Adam Jones, reliever George Sherrill and prospects) this winter. Bedard has done little to help his value, starting the season on the disabled list and going 4-4 with a 3.97 ERA. Ousted general manager Bill Bavasi didn't help his successor boost Bedard's trade value, either. When asked why Bedard had continually failed to reach 100 pitches in his starts, Bavasi told the Seattle Times, "You have to ask him. And he's going to have some stupid answer, some dumbass answer."
That leads to the broader issue with the Mariners -- the clubhouse is dysfunctional, and though the often-sullen Bedard is part of that problem, dumping him won't solve it altogether. Much of the internal strife centers on star center fielder Ichiro Suzuki, who, one executive says, gets preferential treatment from the team. Though he did not name names, Ichiro was a logical target when pitcher Carlos Silva said early this month, "There's a lot of people here who play for themselves. They get two hits, that's my day. I made my day. If we lose, who cares?"
So, yes, Bedard is very publicly on the trading block now. But don't be surprised to see Ichiro — just starting a five-year, $90 million deal -- right behind him.