For a good five hours, the speculation was palpable. After manager Jim Riggleman casually mentioned that oft-injured starter Erik Bedard had undergone an magnetic resonance imaging exam (MRI) early Tuesday afternoon for a closer look at his ailing left shoulder, the question lingered: Was Erik Bedard’s shoulder injury worse than the Mariners first suspected?

The answer to that is — no.

Bedard’s MRI was examined by the Mariners medical director, Dr. Edward Khalfayan, and the diagnosis of “an internal impingement” was given. That was the same diagnosis Khalfayan had for Bedard shortly after he experienced the shoulder stiffness following his July 4th start at Safeco Field –— the last time he’s pitched for Seattle.

Although he didn’t come out and say it, Riggleman hinted that Bedard was concerned there was structural damage in the shoulder.

Bedard (6-4, 3,67 ERA) played some light catch on Sunday, and was supposed to play more catch on Monday but didn’t feel up to it. It was after that, an MRI was decided upon.

“From the time he came out of the game, July 4th, the next couple days after that, it didn’t feel good,” Riggleman said. “It was nothing that said he was going to miss a start. But as he missed a start or two, and wasn’t able to comfortably come out and say I’m ready to fire it around and play some catch and get ready to throw a bullpen — it just became apparent that let’s see if we can’t clear his mind that there’s nothing structurally wrong there. Give him the peace of mind to go out and let it go and know that he’s not going to hurt himself.”

Even though the MRI concluded that there is nothing structurally wrong with the shoulder, when Bedard will return to throwing and pitching in a game remains to be seen.

He first must be able to play catch, then graduate to bullpen session before throwing in a game comes into play.

The Mariners said Bedard will return to his normal rehabilitation program that he’s been on.

Prior to this latest injury, Bedard has missed time and starts with sore hip and back spasms on separate occasions.

KOMO OUT, KIRO IN

The Mariners announced they have agreed to a three-year agreement with Bonneville International, the parent company of 710-AM KIRO radio, for the rights to the radio game broadcasts, beginning next season.

Financial terms of the agreement weren’t available and the deal must be approved by major league baseball. “Returning to KIRO and Bonneville feels like we’re going home,” said Mariners president Chuck Armstrong in a press release. “KIRO was our flagship station for 18 years and we are looking forward to renewing our ties with one of the great stations and broadcast ownership groups in the nation.”

KIRO lost the broadcast rights six years ago when KOMO outbid them. The Mariners and KOMO are in their final-year of that contract.

Mariners vice president of communications Randy Adamack said the organization had initially hoped to wrap up negotiations by Memorial Day, but a few management changes at Bonneville slowed the process somewhat. With the announcement, Bonneville will begin to sell ads for the broadcast next season.

Announcers Dave Niehaus, Dave Simms, Rick Rizz and analyst Mike Blowers are under the employ of the Mariners not KOMO, so they will not be affected by the change in stations.

However KOMO pregame and postgame personalities such as Shannon Drayer, Dave Valle, Matt Pittman and Tom Glasgow have no such guarantees. Some are under contract with KOMO and some are not.