When the Mariners placed left-hander Erik Bedard on the 15-day disabled list near the end of June with a knee injury, they were optimistic that he would be able to return immediately following the All-Star break -- in time to make two or three showcase starts before being shopped at the trade deadline.
As with most of Bedard’s injuries, it hasn’t gone nearly according to plan.
Gerry Spratt of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer reports that the 32-year-old southpaw won’t return early next week against the Yankees, as previously hoped, and might only be able to make one appearance before the July 31 non-wavier deadline.
Bedard has been excellent this season, sporting a 3.00 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 85/26 K/BB ratio through 90 innings of work, and his current injury (a sprained knee) has nothing to do with his old chronic shoulder issues. But the perception that he’s prone to major physical ailments has not been swept under the rug and it’s likely that his delayed return from the disabled list will hurt his trade value later this month.
