TOP 10 REASONS WHY THE ERIC BEDARD TRADE HAS TAKEN SO LONG

by DMtShooter, Five Tool Tool

On Monday, January 28, 2008, the news hits the wires that the long-rumored deal between the Mariners and Orioles, where Seattle would get ace lefty Eric Bedard and the Orioles would get a slew of prospects, may be close to finishing. Why has the deal taken nine days and counting to get done?

10. It's a really long way from Baltimore to Seattle

9. The Mariners and Orioles didn't want to upstage the Johan Santana trade, the Super Bowl, or A-Rod opting out of his contract

8. Orioles are still hoping to move those last few BEDARD jerseys in the gift shop

7. As this is baseball in 2008, both teams have to be sure they have exchanged equal steroid dependence

6. Small market teams have to use "separate but equal" league offices and personnel, and the Small Markets Only bathroom and water fountain has been out of service for weeks

5. Before they pull the trigger, the Orioles want to break the news personally to both of their remaining fans

4. Both teams really want to make sure it's OK with Boston and New York first

3. Can't get Billy Beane, who has been calling nonstop to see if either team could use more players with more than a week of MLB experience, off the phone long enough to finish this thing

2. There's still time for the sanctions to work

1. A crippling sense of ennui, since the Angels, Red Sox, Yankees and Tigers are going to take all of the playoff spots anyway