Orioles interested in Bedard

Less than two years after the monumental trade that singlehandedly replenished the Baltimore Orioles' talent pool, the team is showing interest in re-acquiring left-handed pitcher Erik Bedard -- once a budding ace, now an injury-riddled afterthought in a weak free agent market.

The big question for the Orioles regarding Bedard, as it will be for every other team, is the state of his surgically repaired left shoulder. The Orioles' medical staff is expected to examine Bedard's medical records in the coming days.

"His name's on the board, just like there's a lot of other guys' names on the board," Orioles Manager Dave Trembley said. "[But] I don't think we're in position to get a guy [who's] not ready to pitch until June. I think if we get a guy, we need a guy who's going to pitch at the beginning of the year."

Orioles GM Andy MacPhail traded Bedard to Seattle on Feb. 8, 2008, in a deal that brought the Orioles center fielder Adam Jones, lefty George Sherrill, right-hander Chris Tillman and two other prospects. Jones and Sherrill have since made all-star teams, while Tillman is viewed as a key member of the Orioles' 2010 rotation.

Bedard, meantime, has had two shoulder surgeries since the trade and made only 30 starts total in his two years with the Mariners, who declined to offer him salary arbitration last week. Recent stories about Bedard have suggested he could be ready to pitch by May 2010.

Bedard, who made $7.75 million in 2009 but almost certainly would have to take a pay cut in his next contract, also has a reputaion as a notoriously prickly personality, but Trembley said, "I had a good relationship with Erik."