This was an incredible trade for the Mariners, in my opinion. I was all but praying that the Dodgers would swing something for Bedard...
My bias notwithstanding, I cannot help but think that this makes the Mariners the team to beat in the AL West. Offensively they compare quite favorably to the Angels - the Angels only outscored the Mariners by twenty-six runs last season with the Mariners having an injured and unproductive Richie Sexson and an inexplicably unproductive Jose Lopez. If they rebound I see the offenses being close again.
The pitching, in my opinion, is also very close. Bedard and Hernandez are very, very good and, in all likelihood, on the same level as John Lackey. The Angels may actually have more question marks in their rotation beyond Lackey and Escobar then do the Mariners behind the aforementioned duo. The bullpens are also close. However, K-Rod was very mortal in the second half of last season (as he has been in spurts in the second half of most every season). I prefer Putz to K-Rod.
Overall, both teams are still close. However, I'd rather see the Dodgers line-up face Lackey and Escobar in a best-of-seven series.
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