The Trade is now at mid-season, long enough to allow a first-look review at how it has played out for both teams.  As a quick synopsis, ‘The Trade’ refers to the offseason  Seattle-Baltimore deal in which ace pitcher Erik Bedard went to Seattle in exchange for outfielder Adam Jones, and pitchers George Sherrill, Chris Tillman, Tony Butler, and Kam Mickolio.

First, what the Orioles gave up:  lefthander Erik Bedard was the acknowledged ‘ace’ of the Baltimore staff, and generally regarded as one of the best lefties in the AL.  To this point Bedard has won six games, and posted and ERA of 3.67, for an atrocious Mariner team.  Despite his 72 strikeouts, he is again rumored as trade-bait for any number of teams looking for a solid starter in the second half of the 2008 season.  It is probably unfair to judge Bedard’s season as a success or failure, as Seattle has suffered internal turbulence that has rarely descended on the Pacific Northwest, but he has not been the panacea that former GM Bavasi envisioned when he made the deal.

In return, the Orioles received Jones, who has played like a very young major leaguer, hitting .282 but only adding four home runs and seven steals, and George Sherrill.  Sherrill, as the Baltimore closer, has saved 27 of 32 opportunities, and earned an All-Star berth.

As for the other pitchers, Tillman is 7-2/3.12 for AA Bowie and Mickolio was just promoted to AAA Norfolk on July 6.  Only Butler, at 3-4 for Delmarva, has shown any indication of underperforming expectations.  Sure, the deal can’t be accurately assessed for a few years, but as of now, McPhail has earned the right to carve another notch on his belt, and has brought the Orioles that much closer to cracking the upper division of the AL East.

Bumper sticker:  Bravo!!

It was inevitable…as sporadic as the Bird’s offense has been this year, the mandatory Oriole selection to the AS team was going to be a pitcher.  Fortunately the team has a few worth options, the best of which is the one selected, Closer George Sherrill.