O's ace not in Seattle yet

His turn for physical should be coming soon

Bedard trade

Orioles pitcher Erik Bedard remained at home in Ontario last night, an indication his trade to the Seattle Mariners for five players remains a day or two away from completion.

Bedard will have to travel to Seattle to take a physical before the deal, which would send center fielder Adam Jones, relief pitcher George Sherrill and three pitching prospects to the Orioles for the ace left-hander, becomes official.

The Orioles had Jones and Sherrill in for physicals Monday and spent part of yesterday reviewing the results. If they are content with what they saw, it is expected they will then ask Bedard to head to Seattle for an examination.

The framework of the trade has been agreed upon. However, deals are not official until the primary players involved take and pass physicals.

Chris Tillman, Kam Mickolio and Tony Butler - the three prospects the Orioles are expected to get in the deal - will likely not be asked to take physicals. The Seattle Times reported in yesterday's editions that Tillman, a 19-year-old right-handed pitcher who is one of the Mariners' top prospects, has been informed he's in the deal.

Orioles president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail said last night that the club had nothing to announce and declined to comment further.