Mariners deal Bedard for prospects

SEATTLE – The Mariners added two more minor league bats on Sunday in a trade for pitcher Erik Bedard – a deal that general manager Jack Zduriencik admits could weaken them for the final two months of the season.

Bedard, who was acquired to much fanfare prior to the 2008 season, and Josh Fields, their No. 1 draft pick in 2008, went to the Red Sox in what turned out to be a three-way deal. The Mariners got Double-A outfielder Chih-Hsien Chiang from the Red Sox, and Triple-A outfielder Trayvon Robinson from the Dodgers.

To complete the deal, the Red Sox sent prospects Tim Federowicz, Juan Rodriguez and Stephen Fife to the Dodgers.

Bedard’s departure, a day after the Mariners sent starter Doug Fister to the Tigers for four players, “puts a little wrinkle in our pitching staff,” Zduriencik said. “But when you look at the big picture, we’re getting two offensive guys our scouts like a lot. You make a sacrifice to give up two months of Erik Bedard for two players that are going to be with us for a long period of time.”

Robinson, 23, was the Dodgers’ 10th-rated prospect by Baseball America. A 5-10, 201-pound switch-hitter, he is batting .293 for Albuquerque with 26 homers and 71 RBIs. He has a .375 on-base percentage and .938 on-base percentage. He has also stolen as many as 47 bases.

Chiang, also 23, leads the Eastern League in hitting (.340), RBIs (76), doubles (37), slugging (.648), extra-base hits (59) and runs (68) and is fourth in on-base percentage (.402).

The 6-foot-2, 170-pound Chiang, who is from Taitung, Taiwan, will report to Double-A Jackson; Robinson is joining Triple-A Tacoma.

As for Bedard, injuries derailed his Mariner career after they sent five players, including Adam Jones, to the Orioles for him. He had three shoulder operations.

“I talked to Erik, and he’s sad to leave us,” Zduriencik said. “But there’s a degree of excitement as he goes to a club with the possibility of going to the playoffs and possibly World Series.”