Bedard passes physical, officially back with Mariners - MLB

Erik Bedard headshot.jpg Jim Street of MLB.com reports that Erik Bedard has passed his physical, paving the way for his return to Seattle. Bedard, who turns 31 in March, signed a one-year, $1.5 million contract with a mutual option for 2011.

Jon Heyman of SI.com tweets that the contract includes incentives that could push him over the $7.5 million he made in 2009. Bedard was 5-3 with a 2.82 ERA in 15 starts with the Mariners last season, but was bothered by shoulder problems once again, and underwent season-ending surgery in August.

When asked by Larry LaRue of the Tacoma News Tribune earlier this week, Bedard was optimistic that he would be ready to pitch again by May, but gave no firm expectation on a date for his return. At best, he’ll slot behind Felix Hernandez and Cliff Lee. At worst, he’ll be the same disappointment he’s been for the past two seasons. It’s a gamble worth taking with such a low guaranteed salary.

CARSON CITY, Nev. — The Nevada Senate adjourned Thursday without voting on a financing bill for a proposed $1.5 billion Las Vegas Strip stadium for the Oakland Athletics, extending the special legislative session into the next week amid negotiations over whether to contribute $380 million in public funding to the project.

The measure can still be amended by lawmakers, and if it passes the Senate it would still need approval from the Assembly before going to the desk of Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo, who has expressed support for it. Both the state Senate and Assembly are adjourned until Monday.

In a hearing that began Wednesday and stretched into the early morning hours Thursday, lawmakers peppered tourism officials and a representative from a firm partnering with the ball club with questions about the feasibility and benefits of financing such a deal.

Public funds for the stadium would mainly come from $180 million in transferable tax credits and $120 million in county bonds. Backers have pledged that the creation of a special tax district around the proposed stadium would generate enough money to pay off those bonds and interest. The plan would not directly raise taxes.

The A’s would not owe property taxes for the publicly owned stadium. Clark County, which includes Las Vegas, would also contribute $25 million in credit toward infrastructure costs.

A’s representatives and some tourism officials say a deal would further grow Las Vegas’ developing sports scene and act as an economic engine, but a growing chorus of economists and some lawmakers warn that the project would bring minimal benefits for the hefty public price tag.