(Posted 6:30 a.m., July 22)
Bédard likely to miss entire season
By Fred Sherwin
Orléans Online

Navan hurler Erik Bédard's career maybe in jeopardy after suffering another setback in his bid to return to the Major Leagues following shoulder surgery last year. File photo

Navan hurler Erik Bédard will likely miss the rest of the season after suffering what looks to be a major setback in his bid to comeback from shoulder surgery..

The Seattle Mariner southpaw was expected to work his way back into the big league club's rotation by the end of the month, but a recent MRI showed that his shoulder is still not ready for the wear and tear of throwing a baseball 90-plus mph every fifth day.

Bédard pitcherd 4 1/3 innings for the Triple AAA Tacoma Rainers back on July 2. After the outing, he began to feel pain in his left shoulder which he described as "a little more than discomfort".

The 31-year-old has not pitched in the big leagues since July 25, 2009, Three weeks later he underwent surgery to repair his labrum in his shoulder.

Bédard has had an up and down career in which he has shown flashes of greatness punctuated by multiple surgeries and ongoing health issues.

Since being acquired from the Baltimore Orioles prior to the start of the 2008 season, he's started in just 30 games.

The Mariners signed Bedard to an incentive laden, one-year contract during the off-season that started with a base salary of $1.5 million. The deal also included an $8 million option for 2011 and a $250,000 buyout. Unless Bédard can prove he's 100 per cent healthy and can help the club next year, the Mariners will likely go the buyout route.

Bédard had his best season in 2007 when he went 13-5 and led the Major Leagues in strikeouts with 221 before being placed on the 60-day disabled list on Sept. 5 due to a strained oblique muscle which forced him to miss the rest of the season.

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