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Should Orioles Get More Than Gavin Floyd for Brian Roberts?

Andrew JohnsonPosted Jan 6th 2009 3:10PM by Andrew Johnson (author feed)
Filed under: Orioles, White Sox, MLB Rumors

For the second straight winter Baltimore second baseman Brian Roberts is at the center of a number of trade rumors. Roberts has been linked with Cubs both last winter and this one, but more recently, the White Sox have engaged the Orioles in talks about the two-time All-Star.

In those talks, Chicago offered pitcher Gavin Floyd for the second baseman, but negotiations broke down when the O's asked for more, according to SI.com's Jon Heyman.
"They wanted Floyd plus,'' one person familiar with the talks said.

While the talks aren't necessarily considered dead, White Sox GM Ken Williams said to Chicago media outlets through a spokesman that he hasn't spoken to the Orioles since November. And one other person told SI.com that the chances for a deal were "pretty iffy,'' based on Baltimore's requests.
Floyd is six years younger than Roberts and coming off of a 17-8 campaign in 2008, so it might seem silly for the pitching-starved Orioles to request more than a young top-of-the-rotation starter in return for Roberts, who is only under contract for one more season.
Continue Reading Should Orioles Get More Than Gavin Floyd for Brian Roberts?

Brian Roberts-to-Chicago Rumors Expand to the South Side

Matt SnyderPosted Jan 3rd 2009 2:48PM by Matt Snyder (author feed)
Filed under: Orioles, White Sox, AL Central, AL East, MLB Rumors

If you are tired of hearing rumors -- whether real or conjectured -- of Brian Roberts being traded to the Cubs, you may take a deep breath. We're here to bring you another Roberts-to-Chicago scenario, but this time he is being tied to the White Sox.
Roch Kubatko of the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network reported on Friday night that the White Sox have made the latest attempt to nab Roberts ... Kubatko wrote that the teams have talked about a deal that would send right-hander Gavin Floyd to Baltimore. The issue, according to the report, is that the Orioles want more.
At first glance, the move would seem to make sense for the White Sox. They are shifting Alexei Ramirez to shortstop after letting Orlando Cabrera walk in free agency. They don't have any really great options to immediately step into second base.

On the flip-side, 22-year-old Gordon Beckham -- the White Sox first round draft pick this past year -- is a star in the making and will possibly be ready as early as June to take over second base for the Sox.
Continue Reading Brian Roberts-to-Chicago Rumors Expand to the South Side

Brian Roberts to Cubs Talks Resurrected?

Matt SnyderPosted Jan 2nd 2009 2:25PM by Matt Snyder (author feed)
Filed under: Cubs, Orioles, AL East, NL Central, MLB Rumors

As I wrote a few days ago, the Cubs have recently shed payroll and stockpiled what could be perceived as trading chips during the course of this past week. While people in the know continue to dispel myths of the Jake Peavy talks resurfacing, it seems the Brian Roberts rumors of this past offseason are being kept on life support.

There is apparently talk in Baltimore from fans, but -- like Peter Schmuck -- I'm not buying it. The Cubs wouldn't have signed Aaron Miles to a two year deal to join Ryan Theriot, Mike Fontenot, and Ronny Cedeno in the middle infielder fray if they planned on adding Roberts. That would mean they likely would need to trade two of the aforementioned group to realistically round out their opening day roster. It doesn't make sense, logisitically.

I'm still standing firm in my belief that this move was made as a precursor to landing Peavy, even if it's during the season. People everywhere are giving reasons to dispute my claim, but this would really be the only way to justify trading Mark DeRosa at this juncture.

Footprints in the Snow: Baltimore Orioles

Andrew JohnsonPosted Nov 11th 2008 9:00AM by Andrew Johnson (author feed)
Filed under: Orioles, AL East, MLB Rumors, MLB Transactions

Footprints in the Snow is FanHouse's look at the paths to be forged by MLB teams this winter as they look ahead to 2009.

Meet the new Rays. Tampa Bay's ascent to the top of the American League has robbed the Eastern division of its perennial doormat, but there's someone new on the block to push around -- the Orioles. It's now been 11 seasons since Baltimore qualified for the playoffs or even had a winning record, and that dubious run will likely be extended in 2009.

But it's not all doom and gloom in the Charm City. In fact, in a little more than a year Andy MacPhail -- seemingly free from the tinkering and meddling of owner Peter Angelos -- finally has the Orioles pointed in the right direction. In any other division, you know one that doesn't have four teams with 80-plus wins already in it, the O's might have even been within shouting distance of the .500 mark this year.

There is little hope of contending in the immediate future in Baltimore, but the organization's recent mistakes have almost all been caused by thinking that there was a quick fix somewhere out there. The Orioles have a rapidly improving farm system and they're not that far from being a real factor, but in order to get there, they're going to need to stay on the track MacPhail has started them down.
Continue Reading Footprints in the Snow: Baltimore Orioles

Brian Roberts Wouldn't Have Helped the Cubs

Eamonn BrennanPosted Oct 7th 2008 11:51AM by Eamonn Brennan (author feed)
Filed under: Cubs, MLB Media Watch

It's a few days after the tragedy of a baseball team not winning the World Series, and Chicago's media is still searching for explanations to this Great and Sudden Collapse. The latest? The crumb-bums should have traded for Brian Roberts!
In the bitter end, the difference might have been Brian Roberts, after all. Maybe he wouldn't have overcome the walks in Game 1 or the errors in Game 2, but the Cubs' woeful lack of playoff hitting comes down to two big deficiencies:
Notice, if you will, the contradiction in the first two sentences. The difference was Brian Roberts! Or maybe not, really, but still!

The reasons given here are: The Cubs have no "true" leadoff hitter (yes, they do: Ryan Theriot, though it doesn't matter because Alfonso Soriano is a terrible, inflexible meanie), and the Cubs need more "respected" left-handed hitters. Maybe. Or maybe the lineup that was arguably the best in all of baseball in the regular season had a bad three games, had them just as easily as they could have had three really good ones. Maybe wishcasting for Brian Roberts sort of misses the simple nature of the playoffs: The Cubs were really good, and then ... weren't. Just like the Angels.

Nahhhhh: It was definitely Brian Roberts.

Notes From the Clubhouse: Baltimore Blues Might Finally Be Fading

Andrew JohnsonPosted Aug 2nd 2008 12:37AM by Andrew Johnson (author feed)
Filed under: Orioles, AL East, MLB Transactions

Our MLB editor provides weekly dispatches from major league games in Notes From the Clubhouse.

Last week, the Orioles celebrated the 25th anniversary of their 1983 World Series title. That was the last time the once-proud franchise won a championship, in case you were wondering, and it's been a decade since they were relevant.

Eight days later GM Andy MacPhail did nothing at the trade deadline despite his club's grim chances in 2008. Closer George Sherrill is still an Oriole. So is second baseman Brian Roberts, first baseman Aubrey Huff, outfielder Jay Payton and starting pitcher Daniel Cabrera.

To an outsider it might look like the latest gaffe from a front office that has been as hapless as they come since the days of the Clinton administration. But spend a few days with the team at Camden Yards and you get an entirely different vibe.

MacPhail has overhauled the organization in such a way that there's very real hope for the very near future. In perfect concert, manager Dave Trembley has changed the clubhouse culture, stressing things like accountability, respect and appreciation. It's enough to make you see the light at the end of the tunnel, if nothing else.
Continue Reading Notes From the Clubhouse: Baltimore Blues Might Finally Be Fading

Jason Giambi, Displeased With Common Baseball Strategy

Eamonn BrennanPosted Jul 30th 2008 3:35PM by Eamonn Brennan (author feed)
Filed under: Yankees, AL East, MLB Video



Warning: Naughty gesture used in the above video.

Trying to put the old shift on Jason Giambi, are you? Trying to outsmart the smartest mustache-wearing slugger this side of the Hudson, are you? Well guess what, boyo? Jason doesn't much care for your so-called "baseball strategy." When Jason was a boy, gloves weren't allowed, and you had nub the ball with your forearm. Bunts were popular.

Anyway, that's for you, Brian Roberts. Maybe you'll sack up and play baseball like a man next time.

(HT: Mr. Irrelevant and Big League Stew and The Sporting Blog)

Rumor Mill Roundup: July 22

Andrew JohnsonPosted Jul 22nd 2008 6:45PM by Andrew Johnson (author feed)
Filed under: Angels, Athletics, Braves, Cardinals, Dodgers, Orioles, Rockies, Tigers, MLB Rumors

With the trade deadline right around the corner, our MLB editor brings you the top five rumors every day until July 31.

- Sometimes with trade rumors, it's just a matter of connecting the dots. The Dodgers have a scout in Tampa Bay for this week's Rays-A's series, and with Los Angeles tied with Arizona atop the NL West, you can bet he isn't there to check out Evan Longoria. Back in Tinseltown, manager Joe Torre announced his intentions to showcase give Andy LaRoche plenty of time at third base over the next few weeks.

Even considering Ned Colletti's apparent antipathy for young players, LaRoche is the one prospect who seems to have been jerked around the most. Oakland GM Billy Beane appears willing to deal just about any of his established big leaguers, and the Dodgers could use help just about everywhere. Reliever Huston Street is the obvious target, but shortstop Bobby Crosby and starting pitcher Justin Duchscherer could also end up on the move. LaRoche would be a more than handsome return for any one of those players.

- Brian Fuentes continues to be the hot commodity on the relief market. According to Tracy Ringolsby of the Rocky Mountain News, scouts from seven different teams have watched Fuentes pitch over the last few days, including almost all of the big boys from the American League. Fuentes gave up five runs in a loss on June 30 and since then has been utterly dominant, striking out 13 and walking none in his last seven appearances. Elsewhere, the Cardinals are reportedly stepping up their interest in Baltimore closer George Sherrill.
Continue Reading Rumor Mill Roundup: July 22

Chone Figgins to the White Sox?

Tom FornelliPosted May 21st 2008 1:16PM by Tom Fornelli (author feed)
Filed under: Chicago, Los Angeles, White Sox, Angels, MLB Rumors

The Chicago White Sox are currently riding a six-game win streak that's helped put them back in first place in the AL Central, but that doesn't mean everything is fine and dandy in the Windy City. Sure, the Sox have played a lot better the last few weeks and are starting to resemble a team that can win the division, but they still have holes.

The most glaring one is at second base where Juan Uribe and Alexei Ramirez have been splitting time this season. Combined, they're hitting .201 with four home runs and 20 RBI. The other glaring hole on the White Sox is their lack of a lead-off hitter, as the team currently has Orlando Cabrera at the top of the lineup, and he's much better suited for the two-hole (snicker).

All of which leads to trade speculation as the Sox are hoping to fill both holes in one move, but it won't be Brian Roberts they're going after. One of the names brought up to general manager Kenny Williams, though, was the Angels' Chone Figgins.
''That's an interesting name, and a name that I, yeah ... they're a pretty good team and they need ... I'm talking about the guys that will ultimately be available, and I don't know if they will be any better than what we already got,'' Williams said Tuesday, hours before the Sox beat the Cleveland Indiana 4-1 at U.S. Cellular Field. ''Again, the key phrase being that they will ultimately be available. Not that I can't sit here and play the fantasy game. Hell, I can play that game and come up with a bunch of people. Reality, that's the game I have to deal in.''
Continue Reading Chone Figgins to the White Sox?

Brian Roberts Bares His Soul

Eamonn BrennanPosted Apr 20th 2008 9:39AM by Eamonn Brennan (author feed)
Filed under: Orioles, AL East, Baltimore, PEDs

So far, the best thing any steroid user can do is to just talk about it. Get named in the Mitchell Report, and no one's going to believe you unless you admit what you did, flash-fry a public response, and add a dash of earnest and self-effacing apology.

Why, just ask Brian Roberts. Roberts has been one of those guys that, despite admitting to using steroids, has managed not to deal with too much negative public opinion. That might be because he never broke any records. Still, it's easy to see how this happens:
"I don't know how familiar you guys are with the thing called the Mitchell Report," said Roberts, who wore jeans and a button-down shirt as he paced back and forth on the stage of a hotel ballroom in front of the students. "I knew the truth, obviously, deep in my heart, but I was trying to seek counsel from people around me, my family and friends. And I had some people that I trusted very much who were saying, 'Don't tell anybody. They don't need to know. This is your life. This is your business.' And in the end, I said you know I can't live with it like that."
That's just one of many Roberts quotes in this report from the Baltimore Sun, which covered a talk Roberts gave to a group of high school athletes. After he finished, Maryland Rep. Elijah Cummings -- best known in baseball circles for his solid Clemens committee performance -- said, "When he gets up to bat, I hope people will clap a little harder and a little longer." So ... now we're supposed to cheer for the guys who did steroids? This is so confusing!
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