Editorials

Dodgers Sign Erik Bedard To Minor League Contract

Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

UPDATE (Jan. 28, 1:45 p.m. PT): The Los Angeles Dodgers officially announced the signing of Erik Bedard to a Minor-League contract with a non-roster invitation to Spring Training.

[divide] Just over one month after Andrew Friedman left the Tampa Bay Rays organization to join the Los Angeles Dodgers as president of baseball operations, he made a move to acquire Joel Peralta and Adam Liberatore, two relievers he became familiar with during his time with the Rays.



On Saturday, Friedman added to that list as the Dodgers reportedly signed Jose Molina to a Minor League deal. Molina has spent his entire seven-year career in the Minors and figures to for now do the same with the Dodgers.

According to Ken Gurnick of MLB.com, Friedman has once again reunited with a familiar face with the Dodgers signing Erik Bedard to a Minor League contract:

Bedard was drafted in the sixth round by the Baltimore Orioles in 1999 and made his Major League debut three years later; however, only appearing in two games. In 2004, the left-hander went 6-10 with a 4.59 ERA in 27 games with the Orioles (26 starts).

Last season was Bedard’s first with the Rays organization and he appeared in 17 games, including 15 starts. However, his last appearance was out of the bullpen on July 12. He finished the year with 64 strikeouts and 29 walks in 75.2 innings pitched. During his tenure in Tampa Bay, Bedard was released twice.

Coincidentally, the Dodgers and Orioles engaged in trade talks centered around Bedard and Matt Kemp in November of 2007. In February of 2008, the Orioles traded Bedard to the Seattle Mariners in exchange for Adam Jones, Chris Tillman, George Sherrill, Tony Butler, and Kam Mickolio.

Bedard’s career has been one marred by injury, as he’s only managed to make 119 starts since winning 13 games in 2007 — his final season with the Orioles. That same year, he finished fifth in Cy Young voting.

The signing represents another low-risk, high-reward move for the Dodgers as if all goes well and Bedard sticks with the organization, he could provide more depth to the rotation or perhaps be utilized as a long-reliever given some of the experience he has in coming out of the bullpen.

In his 11-year career Bedard is 71-82 in 241 games (230 starts) with a 3.99 ERA and 1.37 WHIP.

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One Comment

  1. We are becoming the frippin Rays! ……glad we didn’t hire someone from the Mets….

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