On the Mariner's official blog site, Jim Street reports the club is turning its effors tto re-signing Erik Bedard.

the lefty is expected to miss the first three or four months of the regular season but could return midseason to provide some "significant" pitching help.

A new contract could be incentives-based.  Bedard has been hurt more than healthy since being acquired from the Orioles before the 2008 season.

Larry Stone of the Seattle Times writes:

Erik Bedard was back in the Mariners' clubhouse after the surgery on his left shoulder. He'll  can't resume playing for a minimum of four to six months so he'll probably be out at the beginning of next season.

He'll be a free agent and when asked if he'd like to return to the Mariners, Bedard said yes but acknowledged he hasn't talked to GM Jack Zduriencik.

Overall, he's relieved to have the surgery behind him and move forward.

The Seattle News Tribune speculates that Erik Bedard’s injury-marred career with the Seattle Mariners might end without him taking the mound again this season, with the veteran lefty’s ailing left shoulder shutting him down once again.

Bedard won’t throw again before undergoing an MRI exam in Seattle on Friday, which will be compared to an earlier MRI of the shoulder.

“Erik’s frustrated – we all are,” manager Don Wakamatsu said. “He wants to come back, we want him back, but the No. 1 thing is, we want to get to the bottom of this.

He will be a free agent in November.

Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. is happy with his team's place in the standings but he knows there's still work to be done.

The Phillies have been looking for a starter but Amaro told the Philadelphia Inquirer , "We'd like to improve both areas," he said, referring to the rotation and bullpen. "We need all of the above. We're pursuing both. That doesn't mean we're going to get any, but you're always trying to improve."

As far as the payroll goes, Amaro added, "We don't have unlimited flexibility, but we do have flexibility."

On suggestion, Seattle lefty Erik Bedard.

 

Don't expect Kenny Williams to just sit back and wait for Jake Peavy to change his mind. According to Joe Cowley at the Chicago Sun-Times, the White Sox general manager "is rumored to be smack dab on the trail of the likes of an Erik Bedard or Roy Oswalt."  Where Cowley heard these rumors, we do not know.  Manager Ozzie Guillen told Cowley he never knows what's next with Kenny.

Cowley also has comments from A.J. Pierzynski, Jim Thome, and Clayton Richard on the situation.

We heard speculation from Jon Heyman earlier this week that if the Mariners move Bedard, they could require a package similar to or greater than what was offered for Peavy. I can't see Williams ponying up like that, but both aces will require a sizeable bounty from anyone who targets them.

Clarifications have been made to the original post. - Tim Dierkes

A few links for Saturday morning...

• Nolan Ryan could buy into the Texas Rangers according to this MLB.com article by T.R. Sullivan.
• ESPN.com's Buster Olney points out that the Rangers have the resources to "out-bid others for the likes of Erik Bedard" if they decide to trade for pitching help.
• Brewers GM Doug Melvin said once again that he's not looking outside the organization for second base help, according to MLB.com's Adam McCalvy. Melvin said he's happy with Craig Counsell at second in the absence of Rickie Weeks. 
• Now that the Phillies hope to acquire an impact pitcher, Matt Cerrone of MetsBlog.com wonders whether the Mets might decide to get in the Phillies' way and go after an arm, too.
• As Amalie Benjamin of the Boston Globe reports, the Red Sox aren't about to implement a six-man rotation. The Sox will still have arms to spare so we'll continue to hear Brad Penny's name in trade rumors.
• Dave Krieger of the Denver Post says the next four months will be a "referendum" on Rockies GM Dan O'Dowd and his front office.
• As MLB.com's John Schlegel reports Stephen Strasburg struck out 15 in his most recent start, walking no one and allowing two earned runs on eight hits.
• Check out a discussion I had about the Jays and other MLB teams on TorontoSportsMedia.com.
• Newsday's Ken Davidoff likes the Lance Broadway-Ramon Castro swap for the Mets.
• Richard Justice of the Houston Chronicle takes a look at Ed Wade's Kaz Matsui signing and doesn't like what he sees.

Brett Myers is out for the season with hip surgery.  Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports spoke to Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr., who said the Phillies don't have the money to add multiple starters.  Instead they'll aim high, with names like Erik Bedard and Roy Oswalt speculated by Rosenthal.  So, not a Brad Penny type.  SI's Jon Heyman wrote about Bedard's appeal earlier today.

Rosenthal also wonders if Myers' surgery could restore some lost velocity, making him an intriguing free agent after the season.