Brian Roberts to the Cubs

Originally posted: January 9, 2008
Looking like a high price for Roberts

By Phil Rogers

On hold over much of the last month, the Brian Roberts talks are on again between the Cubs and Baltimore Orioles. This deal is almost certainly going to happen -- the only question is when and how much is it going to cost the Cubs.

The feeling among major league executives is soon, and a lot. Don't be surprised if the trade is finalized later this week -- perhaps even Wednesday -- and the deal includes pitchers Sean Marshall, Sean Gallagher and Ronny Cedeno.

Roberts, one of maybe 10 legitimate leadoff hitters in the big leagues, is a valuable commodity. That's why the Orioles have been insisting the Cubs sweeten their offer from the one made at the winter meetings in Nashville -- believed to be built around Gallagher and outfielder Matt Murton. The addition of Marshall into the package would make it easier for Andy MacPhail to pull off the deal that has been occupying the majority of his time in rebuilding the Orioles -- trading lefty Erik Bedard (most likely to Seattle) for a package of young talent.

With Ryan Dempster moving to the starting rotation, the Cubs can arguably afford to give up on Marshall, who compiled an impressive 3.92 ERA in 103 innings last season. But having already non-tendered Mark Prior and expressed a willingness to include Gallagher in this deal, the addition of Marshall to the package would further erode the depth of starting pitching in the system.

Jason Marquis and Dempster project as the most likely 4-5 starters for Lou Piniella. If Marshall and Gallagher were both traded to Baltimore, the cast behind them would be headed by Kevin Hart, the fragile Angel Guzman and unproven prospects Donald Veal, Jeff Samardzija, Adam Harben and Jose Ascanio. There are still some serviceable free-agent pitchers on the market, including Josh Fogg, Livan Hernandez, Bartolo Colon, Kyle Lohse and Jason Jennings.

If the Cubs get Roberts (.377 on-base percentage and 50 stolen bases last season), Piniella will shuffle the batting order, likely dropping Alfonso Soriano from first to third. It could look like this: Roberts, Ryan Theriot, Soriano, Aramis Ramirez, Kosuke Fukudome, Derrek Lee, Geovany Soto and Felix Pie. Because of Fukudome's penchant for getting on base, he could hit as high as second, although that would leave the right-handed-hitting Soriano, Lee and Ramirez hitting next to each other.

The presence of both Roberts and Fukudome would make it uncertain how to use Mark DeRosa, who was third on the team with 72 RBIs last season (two more than Soriano). He most likely would be groomed as a super sub at every position, including shortstop and center field. It would also be possible to look at Roberts at shortstop in spring training -- he hasn't played there much since his rookie season in 2001 -- with the possibility of DeRosa remaining the second baseman and Theriot becoming the top sub.

http://blogs.chicagosports.chicagotr...ng-like-a.html

high price? if thats the deal thats really laughable

Reports: Roberts Traded to Cubs
By: Tony Pente 1/9/2008

Orioleshangout.com has learned through several sources that the trade of All-Star second baseman Brian Roberts to the Cubs has been finalized.

The early reports indicate that Orioles will get back 22-year old right-hander pitching prospect Sean Gallagher, 25-year old left-handed starting pitcher Sean Marshall, and 24-year old shortstop Ronny Cedeno.

Update: An Orioles official has contacted the Hangout and denied this report and said "it is completely inaccurate."

More to come as it develops.....

http://orioleshangout.com/article.asp?ID=1297

I suppose this puts us back at Square 1, if the Orioles are telling the truth

Orioles guys are saying its not true but still to call that a high price it has to be a joke

I thought Roberts played for UD's basketball team? ;)

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Originally Posted by ChatterRed

I thought Roberts played for UD's basketball team? ;)

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He does and I hear he's quite good. ;) He's also apparently a big wig with Comcast who seem to have a lot of deals going on right now. I may or may not have Brian Roberts on a Yahoo alert where I get all the latest articles and such sent to my email every day. Unfortunately, they're not always about the Brian Roberts from baseball which kind of sucks for me, LOL :laugh:

For whatever it's worth, if the Cubs do get Brian for their team, he's going to be one of those guys who annoys the heck out of our Reds pitchers because he's got great plate discipline and he's also great on the basepaths. I wish he was coming to the Reds in that regard so he could teach our guys a few things, LOL ;)

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Originally Posted by AmarilloRed

Update: An Orioles official has contacted the Hangout and denied this report and said "it is completely inaccurate."

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The Orioles actually contact the message boards for their team? Reds fans should be jealous. ;)

A trusted emailer wrote in to tell me about a report today from Bruce Levine of ESPN Radio 1000. According to Levine, Brian Roberts is no longer available. The Orioles were apparently asking for Tyler Colvin or Felix Pie plus multiple pitchers, and the Cubs wouldn't do it.

Levine says the Cubs may turn their attention to the Rangers' Marlon Byrd or free agent Jon Lieber.



It seems that the Orioles are making a habit of asking too much for their players.

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O's are pretty much worthless

There's a reason the O's have not been successful in the last 20 or so years.

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Piniella will shuffle the batting order, likely dropping Alfonso Soriano from first to third. It could look like this: Roberts, Ryan Theriot, Soriano, Aramis Ramirez, Kosuke Fukudome, Derrek Lee, Geovany Soto and Felix Pie

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thats a pretty silly lineup...

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Originally Posted by Newman4

The Orioles actually contact the message boards for their team? Reds fans should be jealous. ;)

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Only when the message boards report something that is 100% false.

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Piniella will shuffle the batting order, likely dropping Alfonso Soriano from first to third. It could look like this: Roberts, Ryan Theriot, Soriano, Aramis Ramirez, Kosuke Fukudome, Derrek Lee, Geovany Soto and Felix Pie

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Mark De Rosa would fit in there somewhere on a daily basis. He might have been the most consistent hitter on their team last year.