As it turns out this team needs Rodrigo Lopez. With all the young pitching coming RLo has been a consistent source of trade speculation. However this is not the time to trade him.

Why?

Because the young arms will wear down in August and September leaving the O's short on starters or worst.

The one thing the O's don't want to do is put too much stress of young arms. Remember calling up Matt Riley late in the year. Remember the arm problems he developed after that. Were they directly related? Who knows, but why take the chance.

RLo is not a free agent until after the 2007 season. He can pitch the rest of this year and still be traded this winter. RLo will be needed in the rotation until Penn gets stronger. That could take several weeks to a month. By then Bedard and Loewen will have probably excessed their highest innings pitched in their career.

I say keep RLo. Let him spot start for a while and keep sharp in the pen. Then go to a six man rotation late in the year.