Tony DeMarco

Whether Erik Bedard and Brian Roberts are dealt soon, or closer to the July 31^st trade deadline, the new vision in Baltimore already is clear.

President of Baseball Operations Andy MacPhail is taking the franchise on a new and long-overdue course — even if it will require patience in watching a consecutive-losing-seasons streak stretch into a second decade.

That’s right; it’s been 10 years since the Orioles posted a winning season or finished higher than third place in the American League East. They won the division in 1997 with a 98-64 record, slipped to 79-83 the following year, and haven’t won more than 78 games in any season since, bottoming out at 63-98 in 2001. Talk about consistent mediocrity, along the way there have been no fewer than nine fourth-place finishes (thank you, Tampa Bay Rays).

MacPhail came on board in the middle of last season — a signal that the Angelos family finally was willing to admit its try-to-win-now spending was an utter flop. Why it took so long for them to figure it out is anybody’s guess, but that’s history now, because after taking time to observe what he had to work with, MacPhail has stepped into action mode this winter.

Miguel Tejada already is gone — a long-overdue move of a once-great player who has begun to decline, and one who wasn’t shy about voicing his disapproval with the O’s continued struggles.

MacPhail found just the right taker — a Houston Astros team trying to reload (and possibly making the same mistake the Orioles have been making for a decade). And at just the right time, as the $26 million remaining on Tejada’s contract wasn’t prohibitive, and his skills still are well above-average.

The return appears to be more quantity than quality at this point — left fielder Luke Scott, three young pitchers who could win spots in 2008 in Troy Patton, Matt Albers and Dennis Sarfate, and another prospect.

Now, two more intriguing possibilities are on the table. Roberts reportedly could bring at least one, and possibly two, well-regarded young arms in Sean Marshall and Sean Gallagher, plus a middle-infield option in Ronny Cedeno from the Cubs, who believe they are a player away from moving deep into October. A player such as Roberts — an All-Star caliber second baseman and No. 1 or 2 hitter who would fit perfectly with the power combination of Alfonso Soriano, Derrek Lee, Aramis Ramirez and former Japanese League star Kosuke Fukudome, their big free-agent signee.

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The deal should be a no-brainer from the Orioles’ point of view — adding three more pieces to help restock a talent-thin organization, while giving up an excellent player who nonetheless hasn’t helped them get above .500 or fourth place.

And if Marshall — a talented young lefty who posted a 3.92 ERA with the Cubs last season — is in the deal, it could ease the way for Bedard to be dealt — either soon or before the July 31^st deadline, when his price could go up.

The problem is, dealing Bedard is a tougher proposition to swallow. A talented and tough left-hander just entering his peak years at 28, he was leading the majors in strikeouts when he was shut down in early September due to a rib-cage muscle injury. He finished 13-5 and was fourth in the league in ERA (3.16), third in strikeouts (221) and second in WHIP (1.09). In addition, the Orioles also would control him for two more seasons before he is eligible for free agency.

But being able to lock up Bedard beyond that point is questionable, and borrowing from the Billy Beane school of rebuilding, if you want top-quality young talent, you have to give up star-caliber big-leaguers. And the return from Seattle reportedly has elite, big-league-ready outfield prospect Adam Jones included. It also could include top catching prospect Jeff Clement and another top prospect.

The balance MacPhail must strike is getting the best deal(s) possible while moving quickly enough to not slow down the rebuilding process. Because soon enough, if neither of these deals are consummated, he will have to start looking for stop-gap 2008 options — particularly at shortstop, center field and in the bullpen — and isn’t that what the O’s have done for years with no success?

As painful as it may be in the short run, MacPhail’s rebuilding plan is the right way for the Orioles to go — finally. Dropping from their usual fourth-place slot to fifth behind the emerging Rays really wouldn’t be that big a deal if it happens this season — especially if it means the Orioles get on a path to legitimate hopes of contending in time for the next decade.