SEATTLE —The status of Seattle pitcher Erik Bedard and his fraying left shoulder will wait a few more days.

Manager Don Wakamatsu said Saturday that Bedard will travel to Los Angeles on Wednesday to meet with Dr. Lewis Yocum, the doctor who performed surgery on Bedard's shoulder last year.

"We feel comfortable having him take a look at the MRI, this new one and the one before and compare and see where he's at after he gets back from the visit," Wakamatsu said before the Mariners' game against Tampa Bay.

Bedard has been experiencing pain in his shoulder and was placed on the disabled list July 26. But Bedard said Friday that this discomfort is coming from the top of his shoulder and has him puzzled about what is going on.

"It's frustrating, I can tell you that. Being hurt for two seasons. New team. Everyone thinks … that's all I'm going to say," said the 30-year-old former ace of the Baltimore Orioles, who is on the disabled list for fourth time in the last two seasons.

The newly discovered fraying in his shoulder is putting Bedard's season and his future in Seattle in limbo. He's been roundly considered a bust after the five-for-one deal that brought Bedard to Seattle before the 2008 season in exchange for All-Star Adam Jones, reliever George Sherrill and a handful of blossoming prospects.

Bedard has won just 11 games in 30 starts since he was acquired from the Orioles. He's been on the active roster for just 20 days since June 17.

He said he has no idea if he will pitch again this season, which means he has no idea if he will pitch again for Seattle.

He is in the final months of his contract and could become a free agent this winter. The Mariners are faced with a decision whether to offer Bedard salary arbitration, which could result in a contract for 2010 near the $7.75 million one he got for this season.

It may result in Seattle getting compensated with draft picks should Bedard leave in free agency. Bedard might not qualify statistically as a top-tier free agent because he's been hurt so often these last two seasons.

He got a $750,000 raise from Seattle for 2009 after going 6-4 with a 3.67 ERA in 15 starts last season. He didn't pitch after July 4 and had surgery to remove a cyst and non-healthy tissue in his left shoulder in September.

"It's obviously causing him some discomfort and surgery could be a possibility. On that I don't know," Wakamatsu said. "That's why were sending him down there to make sure the guy that operated on it before has a clear understanding."

Wakamatsu also said he's leaning toward starting recent call-up Doug Fister on Tuesday against the Chicago White Sox. Fister was 6-4 with a 3.18 ERA at Triple-A Tacoma. He was brought up Friday.