Maybe things are looking up

If the Orioles can ever getting around to sealing the deal on this godforsaken Erik Bedard to Seattle trade, maybe things really will start to turn around down at the Yard. Check out what Jayson Stark says:

One other thing we should mention: Every baseball man we've polled rates the Orioles' return for Bedard as being vastly superior to the Twins' return for Johan Santana, assuming the rumored names are correct.

Adam Jones "oozes tools," said one scout. Another had this review: "I think he'll be a very good offensive player, with exceptional defense." Jones has been compared to both Torii Hunter and Mike Cameron. But the second scout said: "He could be better than either one of those guys." And the primary pitching piece, Chris Tillman, is such a scout favorite that one says: "When it's all said and done, he'll be the one guy in this deal everybody talks about."

We can only hope. But I still prefer unloading Bedard a year early and getting good to great prospects in return than taking him into the season and trying deal him before July 31st during his walk year, or even worse getting nothing for him but a compensatory draft pick if he were to leave in free agency.

But having Adam Jones in center and Nick Markakis in right for the next ten years sounds like a plan to me...