Is this a fair deal for the O's AND Cubs?

[Number5]

Yes ... for a package of Gallagher, Murton, Cedeno, and Fotenot I would trade Roberts. ABSOLUTELY.

Just curious, who would play shortstop for the Cubs?

[Number5]

Disregard last. Misread Fontenot as Theriot.

[skiba7]

Just curious, who would play shortstop for the Cubs?

Regardless of whether or not Cedeno is traded, Theriot is the starting shortstop, unfortunately.

[Fairfax Bird]

And I can't fault you for that. I'm just saying that it is much more possible that we could regret that trade in a couple years than that we'd regret either of the other two trades. If Cedeno's ML OPS ends up in the low 600s as it has been so far, Fontenot does as expected (730-760 OPS), Murton ends up being a somewhat better, cheaper version of pre-2007 Jay Payton (rakes lefties, not good enough to play every day), and Gallagher ends up as a #5, we won't really yield much of anything from this trade because these results are easily findable w/o trading some like Brian Roberts. If Gallagher ends up as a strong #3 or decent #2, we win easily. Same if Cedeno suddenly figures out how to produce his MiL numbers in the majors.

If we do this sort of deal, I won't complain. I'm just saying I'd rather trade Roberts for less players with a higher ceiling and better chance of reaching that ceiling EVEN if they're farther away from the majors. The fact that the Cubs seem so willing to trade some of these guys really makes me wonder.

Now, if Roberts were to keep playing at this level AND resign here in two years, there is no way we could lose on this trade since the next two years mean very little.

I don't disagree with you. There is also the possibility that Cedeno ends up being a .750-.800 OPS SS. Fontenot ends up being an average 2B. Murton is a .820-.850 OF/DH and Gallagher is a #3.

Or more likely is something in between.

[ChaosLex]

MacPhail got his marquee player from the Mariners in Jones. I truly wonder if he's holding out for Pie and will take nothing less than him.

[zff4]

I'm just saying I'd rather trade Roberts for less players with a higher ceiling and better chance of reaching that ceiling EVEN if they're farther away from the majors. The fact that the Cubs seem so willing to trade some of these guys really makes me wonder.

I think that's what MacPhail essentially said when he said he didn't see how trading Roberts would improve us in 08, which implies Cedeno and Murton might not be the players we're looking for.

However, I remember that the Padres were reported having interest in Murton. Any chance we could flip Murton (and more) for the Padre's Matt Antonelli who could be the kind of player we might like as a Roberts replacement? That would give us Cedeno at SS (although I'm not as high on him as some) and Antonelli on 2nd.

http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/prospects/features/264166.html

http://firstinning.com/players/Matt-Antonelli-a/

http://wakeforestsports.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/mtt/antonelli_matt00.html

[theobird]

My gut feeling is that he is asking for Pie and will settle for Colvin. The only problem is that the Cubs might not want to part with either. The more I look at Colvin the more I like him better than Pie.

I think you are exactly right. Hold on for the ride folks, I think Andy is gonna drive another hard bargain. I will be surprised if the O's trade Roberts to the Cubs without one of Pie/Colvin in the deal. And I will also bet that it will have at least 2 more players coming back with one of them. Just don't think it will happen real quick. Just a hunch.

[skiba7]

That's what I was told and PEace said he's heard the same. We may want Colvin instead of Veal though.

He has? Peace just said that he didn't know if that was really the offer or not. Interesting.