Is this really going to happen? Are the Seattle Mariners really going to be able to get something for oft-injured starting pitcher Erik Bedard? Perhaps. From Ken Rosenthal and Jon Morosi:

The Mariners had two scouts watching the Red Sox’s Triple A affiliate on Wednesday night and one watching the Sox’s Double A club, according to major-league sources.

--snip--

However, the Sox’s primary focus could be left-hander Erik Bedard, who has not pitched since June 27 due to a strained left knee but will come off the disabled list Friday night against the Rays. The Sox are "all over" Bedard, one source said, and both the Sox and Yankees are expected to scout Bedard Friday night.

Hell, I'm going to scout Bedard too ... from the comfort of my moderately comfortable office chair, part three feet from my small silvery television set.

I take those scouts in the minor-league parks seriously, though; you've got only so many scouts, and not enough to watch every minor-league game every night. So if the M's really had three scouts watching Red Sox minor leaguers Wednesday night, there might actually be something cooking.

Pitchers who have started at least one game for the first-place Boston Red Sox in the last few weeks, and their 2011 ERAs: John Lackey (6.20), Tim Wakefield (5.15), Andrew Miller (5.45), Kyle Weiland (8.10).

The Sox are 64-38, which does make most of their problems seem inconsequential. But right now the club's got two dependable starters, and even if Clay Buchholz comes back and makes it three, you'd like to have four in October. It's not likely, but it's possible that Bedard could be dependable, or somewhat dependable. Which goes most of the way toward explaining why the Red Sox might be interested in him.

Of course, Doug Fister has a better chance of being dependable, but it would take a lot more to get him, since he's younger and cheaper and generally healthier than Bedard.