The Cubs are in talks with the Baltimore Orioles to bring 2b Brian Roberts to Wrigley Field next season. Roberts, a switch hitting speedster, bats lead-off and plays a pretty good second base defensively. Trading for Roberts would give the Cubs another left handed bat in the lineup and allow them to move OF Alfonso Soriano down in the lineup. Roberts would also allow the Cubs to move Mark DeRosa to right field and possibly trade Matt Murton to Tampa Bay. With a Murton trade to TB the Cubs would be open to going after OF Geoff Jenkins to play outfield from time to time and be a left handed bat off the bench.
Roberts has been the catalyst for the Orioles lineup since he was called up to stay in 2003 and had his best season in 2005 when he had 18 home runs and a .387 obp. Roberts signed a two-year contract extension with the Orioles before the 2007 Season, so he would be under the Cubs control until the end of the 2009 Season. He'll earn $6.3 million in 2008 and $8 million in 2009.
It looks like the Orioles are looking for a package that includes SP Sean Marshall, SS Ronny Cedeno and one other prospect from a list the includes players such as SP's Kevin Hart, Sean Gallagher or Donald Veal. Hart has some history with the Orioles as he was originally drafted by them but sent to the Cubs in the Sammy Sosa deal. Veal is the top left handed pitcher in the Cubs minor league system. SP Rich Hill and OF Felix Pie are not part of the discussions at this time.
Baltimore has been difficult to trade with the past few years as their decision making process is considered slow, at best. One would think that new GM Andy MacPhail would have control over all player personnel decisions but Owner Peter Angelos has the final word on all player movement. That being said, Roberts is supposedly a favorite player of Angelos, so this deal could fall apart quickly. The Orioles are also in discussions to trade SP Erik Bedard and SS Miguel Tejada, which would also add to delay in any trade happening with the Cubs. In other words, don't hold your breath.
The Cubs are probably making this push for Roberts because their efforts for Japanese OF Kosuke Fukudome fell short. Word is that a team has come on late with a major bid and Fukudome will make his decision in the next day or so. If the Cubs missed out on Fukudome they would still have a need for a left handed hitter, thus the movement for Roberts.
I can't see them giving up a top pitching prospect in that deal unless they are all out of options. If Tejada goes soon, that'll make Cedeno's value go up in this trade which is good for us. Maybe then they'll get a lower level pitching prospect.
It will be tough to 'win' this trade since MacPhail has a lot of knowledge on the prospects from when he worked with the Cubs. I think this is going to take some time to process because of Tejada/Bedard. If Bedard goes quick, the price the Cubs pay might actually increase depending on who the O's get back. It's not easy dealing with the O's these days, so this could be a complete heap of frustration in the end. Orlando Hudson is looking better and better each day but I'd like any pitchers the Cubs trade...to be traded to the AL
Hoosiernation
said
I saw the posts on mlbtraderumors and a couple of those lists of possible players in this trade is ridiculous. I forgot about Hudson in the grand scheme of things. Patience may be the best weapon here in dealing with the O's. But, it looks like want to sure up this left handed hitter soon.
bcurt10
said
I'd like this deal a lot - even if the Cubs DID get The F-YouDome. Adding a couple high obp (& left-handed batting) guys to the top of the order would make for a lot more opportunities to drive in runs for the big 3.
I don't like the price of that Japanese guy, but I do think he'd be a good get. His average, obp, and defense, would be a HUGE upgrade in right, despite the fact that he likely won't hit more than 10 bombs a year. Sure the price tag is ridiculous, but I doubt it would be that restrictive on the Cubs future signings.
That's kind of the thing with me though....I don't want the Cubs to have to rely on future signings. I'd rather they let their younger players play, or at least give them an actual opportunity to see if they can play. The best way to build an organization that can be a consistent contender is to have enough talent in the minor league systems to funnel in over time. It's not a good sign to continue to sign overpriced free agents.
Hoosiernation
said
The item I've been thinking about with these signings over the past couple of years is what type of window are they trying to play with. Are they putting a team together of solid players to make a run after the title while Pinella is in town...or are they satisfied with playing some unproven guys who may be a bit riskier?
bcurt10
said
Well, the Cubs' 4 best players are all under contract for at least (I think) 4 more years, and I don't think any of them are in the decline stages of their careers as of yet...so they can afford to be a little patient.
On the other hand, with those 4 perhaps at (or close to) their peak now, and Sweet Lou approaching 99 years old, I could see them trying to make a push to win ASAP - even sacrificing some stud prospects if they could get some talent they think will help them to the promise land.
The problem is, the Cubs have been really bad at identifying said talent & studs for as long as I can remember.
2008 Cubs Preview
I can't see them giving up a top pitching prospect in that deal unless they are all out of options. If Tejada goes soon, that'll make Cedeno's value go up in this trade which is good for us. Maybe then they'll get a lower level pitching prospect.
It will be tough to 'win' this trade since MacPhail has a lot of knowledge on the prospects from when he worked with the Cubs. I think this is going to take some time to process because of Tejada/Bedard. If Bedard goes quick, the price the Cubs pay might actually increase depending on who the O's get back. It's not easy dealing with the O's these days, so this could be a complete heap of frustration in the end. Orlando Hudson is looking better and better each day but I'd like any pitchers the Cubs trade...to be traded to the AL
I saw the posts on mlbtraderumors and a couple of those lists of possible players in this trade is ridiculous. I forgot about Hudson in the grand scheme of things. Patience may be the best weapon here in dealing with the O's. But, it looks like want to sure up this left handed hitter soon.
I'd like this deal a lot - even if the Cubs DID get The F-YouDome. Adding a couple high obp (& left-handed batting) guys to the top of the order would make for a lot more opportunities to drive in runs for the big 3.
I don't like the price of that Japanese guy, but I do think he'd be a good get. His average, obp, and defense, would be a HUGE upgrade in right, despite the fact that he likely won't hit more than 10 bombs a year. Sure the price tag is ridiculous, but I doubt it would be that restrictive on the Cubs future signings.
That's kind of the thing with me though....I don't want the Cubs to have to rely on future signings. I'd rather they let their younger players play, or at least give them an actual opportunity to see if they can play. The best way to build an organization that can be a consistent contender is to have enough talent in the minor league systems to funnel in over time. It's not a good sign to continue to sign overpriced free agents.
The item I've been thinking about with these signings over the past couple of years is what type of window are they trying to play with. Are they putting a team together of solid players to make a run after the title while Pinella is in town...or are they satisfied with playing some unproven guys who may be a bit riskier?
Well, the Cubs' 4 best players are all under contract for at least (I think) 4 more years, and I don't think any of them are in the decline stages of their careers as of yet...so they can afford to be a little patient.
On the other hand, with those 4 perhaps at (or close to) their peak now, and Sweet Lou approaching 99 years old, I could see them trying to make a push to win ASAP - even sacrificing some stud prospects if they could get some talent they think will help them to the promise land.
The problem is, the Cubs have been really bad at identifying said talent & studs for as long as I can remember.