Has Bedard Finally Been Traded? Will Roberts To Cubs Follow?

mlbtraderumors.com flagged this story by Geoff Baker of the Seattle Times, reporting that Adam Jones of the Mariners is on his way to Baltimore in a deal for Eric Bedard. According to Baker, Jones is scheduled to be in Baltimore Monday so he can take a physical. No definitive or semi-definitive word on which other Mariners might also be headed to the O's.

Baker's report is based on an interview between Jones and a baseball writer in Venezuela, where Jones has been playing winter ball. Said the player:

"(Mariners GM Bill Bavasi) called me yesterday and told me the news. I've got to go to Baltimore tomorrow morning and handle things there. I'm the centerpiece of the deal on the Mariners side. It's an honor to get traded for such a highly talented pitcher as Bedard is. He's one of the best."

Naturally, there has to be a little remaining intrigue in this never-ending story. In the last hour, Roch Kubatko of the Baltimore Sun posted this:

I would love to file an entry confirming the Erik Bedard trade to Seattle and releasing the names of the prospects that Orioles president Andy MacPhail acquired in return for the left-hander. Just one problem: Nobody on the Orioles' side is confirming that a deal is done. All we have so far is Adam Jones telling reporters in Venezuela that the Mariners told him that a trade was completed and he should fly to Baltimore. Pretty strong stuff. But the media here needs someone from the warehouse to provide confirmation, and it's not happening.

Obviously, with this being neither a Mariners blog or an Orioles blog, the primary reason to note any of this here is the possibility that having dispatched Bedard, Andy MacPhail might finally get around to moving Brian Roberts. Also, if the M's/O's deal is a reality, we Cub fans can once and for all dispose of any fantasies that the Cubs might actually have been able to land both players from Baltimore.