Orioles Not Interested in Erik Bedard

Ok, this one I don’t get.

The O’s aren’t interested in bringing back Bedard. Image: Charles LeClaire-US PRESSWIRE

In the past week, the Baltimore Orioles, who have one of the worst starting rotations in baseball, have added Joe Saunders (who allowed four runs in his first inning of work in his O’s debut Wednesday night) and will sign Brewers castoff Randy Wolf, he of the 5.69 ERA. Somehow, despite all that, they have no interest in adding a pitcher in Bedard that has A) had success in the AL East, B) struck out nearly a batter per inning this year, C) costs them next to nothing, and D) is better than either lefty they just picked up.

Look, I get that Bedard has a reputation as being a bit of a malcontent and surely the Orioles, as his former employer, would be well aware of whatever challenges he would bring to the clubhouse. But if you’re a club that hasn’t sniffed the playoffs in 15 years, don’t you think you’d place talent above chemistry with 35 games to go in the season?

Neither Bedard nor Wolf has been great this year, obviously, or they wouldn’t be available. Both have pitched in some bad luck. The difference is that Bedard has shown the ability this season to dominate. Wolf has never had the pure stuff that Bedard features. I’m not sure why it has to be a one or the other scenario for the O’s, but if it is, I can see no on-the-field reason for Baltimore to be more interested in the lesser pitcher.

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