Bedard Beats O's; Trade Still Lopsided

SEATTLE -- Erik Bedard faced Baltimore for the first time Tuesday since the Orioles dealt him to the Mariners to be the final piece of their American League West championship puzzle. Only it has hardly worked out that way. The Mariners, along with Bedard, have struggled mightily since the deal, while the Orioles revamped their farm system and added two productive major leaguers in the deal.

A deal hasn't helped a team more since the Dallas Cowboys practically won three Super Bowls by trading Herschel Walker to Minnesota 20 years ago. Bedard was able to exact a semblance of revenge and some pride for bruised Seattle with 6 1/3 innings of one-run ball. He struck out seven and walked three in an 8-2 Mariners win.

This was dominant Bedard with his curveball snapping and fastball crisp. This Bedard hasn't been seen much in Seattle. And the question is whether the Mariners will ever get any real value out of Bedard, a free agent at season's end and likely to bolt elsewhere.

Of course, the rather stoic Bedard didn't have much to say about facing the team that drafted him, endured his Tommy John surgery and where he spent his best days. Bedard was 28-16 in his final two years with the Orioles, who decided to mortgage the present by dealing the left-hander to Seattle for five players, including gifted outfielder Adam Jones and closer George Sherill.

"Same as any other team," he said. "It was different I guess, I am sure I am going to get texts after the game."

Of course, the Orioles have undergone a dramatic transformation since his departure. Of the nine Baltimore starters he faced Tuesday, only two -- Brian Roberts and Melvin Mora -- were regulars when Bedard was the team's No. 1 starter. Other than that, it was a bunch of strangers.

"Yeah there's only a few guys [left]," he said. " Every team almost does that. [Seattle] did that from last year to this year. It's pretty much normal."

His former mates were impressed with his stuff, which has never been questioned. Critics have challenged Bedard's desire, especially last season when he missed the final three months with left shoulder inflammation.

"I got a lot of respect for Erik," Baltimore manager Dave Trembley said. "He pitched very well for us. I know what he's all about. He's an extremely competitive guy. Just knowing him the way I do, I don't think he's any different any time. I think he's the same all the time. He's a real competitive, quiet type of guy, but he's all business when he's got that ball in his hand."

Bedard has repeatedly denied he's looking to free agency or even the July 31 trade deadline. When asked when he will begin thinking about next season, he said with a straight face, "At the end of the season, not right now."