Bedard trade expected to be announced Friday

Baltimore Orioles pitcher Erik Bedard arrived in Seattle on Thursday for a physical exam -- the final step in a drawn-out trade that would bring the left-hander to the Mariners in exchange for outfielder Adam Jones, left-handed reliever George Sherill and three minor leaguers.

Assuming the physical is routine, the Mariners are expected to introduce Bedard on Friday.

After several days of waiting, Bedard finally got the call Wednesday at his rural Ontario home that he would be traveling to Seattle. Bedard had been inundated with phone calls and text messages from friends, family and teammates for the better part of two weeks wanting to know if he was coming or going. The Orioles hadn't told him anything and his presumptive new team, the Mariners, hadn't said a word either.

Once Bedard is under contract, the Mariners will have wrapped up their offseason roster rehabilitation. And not a moment too soon, because the first workout for pitchers and catchers in Peoria, Ariz., is Thursday.

The question now is whether the Mariners will try to work out a contract extension for the left-hander, who was 13-5 with a 3.16 ERA last year with the Orioles, including going 9-1 with a 2.65 ERA in his last 14 starts.

With Bedard and Felix Hernandez at the top of the rotation, the club believes its starting pitching will match up nicely with that of the defending American League West champion Los Angeles Angels. Seattle won 88 games last season, finishing six games behind the Angels and missing the playoffs for the sixth consecutive season.

Bedard has two years left on his current contract and is eligible for arbitration. He and the Orioles have already exchanged numbers, with Baltimore offering $6 million and Bedard countering with a request for $8 million.

General manager Bill Bavasi has not gone to salary arbitration during his time with the Mariners. According to baseball regulations, Seattle is on the hook for the Baltimore offer of $6 million.

The Mariners are more likely to try to sign him to an extension.

Making sure Bedard will be around for the long term could lessen the blow of trading Jones, the club's best offensive prospect, and Sherrill, the team's top left-handed reliever. The Mariners would also send minor league pitchers Chris Tillman, Kam Mickolio and Tony Butler to Baltimore.

Seattle's other incoming starting pitcher, Carlos Silva, got a four-year, $48 million deal as a free agent.

It's not clear what kind of contract Bedard would be looking for in terms of length and dollar amount, but a deal that would essentially buy out the first two years of his potential free agency (2010 and 2011) might be in the same range as Silva's.

Even if a long-term deal isn't something that can be struck now, the Mariners likely will try to avoid arbitration and sign Bedard before the hearing takes place.

But first the deal has to be completed.

The finish line is in sight.