Stark:Roberts deal could be done next week

[goodol23]

STRIKE TWO -- Bird Land: An official of one club that has been in touch with the Orioles and Cubs predicts the Orioles will trade Brian Roberts to Wrigleyville in the third week of March. The most likely package continues to be Roberts and Jay Payton for Sean Gallagher, Ronny Cedeno and at least one more prospect.

The Orioles also have been telling clubs they'll add at least one more veteran starting pitcher before Opening Day. Translation: Kyle Lohse, if they can keep Scott Boras' asking price within reason.

At the moment, the Orioles are planning on Steve Trachsel as their Opening Day starter, just to take the heat off their younger pitchers. Which leads us to this question: What's the last team to start a free agent who signed a minor-league contract on Opening Day? If you can think of one, let us know, at uselessinfodept@yahoo.com.

[MikeAD]

Wow, Trax on opening day...really?

[JTrea81]

Wow Steve Trachsel, the opening day starter. Looks like it will be a good day at the yard to get a souvenir baseball...

[waroriole]

STRIKE TWO -- Bird Land: An official of one club that has been in touch with the Orioles and Cubs predicts the Orioles will trade Brian Roberts to Wrigleyville in the third week of March. The most likely package continues to be Roberts and Jay Payton for Sean Gallagher, Ronny Cedeno and at least one more prospect.

The Orioles also have been telling clubs they'll add at least one more veteran starting pitcher before Opening Day. Translation: Kyle Lohse, if they can keep Scott Boras' asking price within reason.

At the moment, the Orioles are planning on Steve Trachsel as their Opening Day starter, just to take the heat off their younger pitchers. Which leads us to this question: What's the last team to start a free agent who signed a minor-league contract on Opening Day? If you can think of one, let us know, at uselessinfodept@yahoo.com.

Do you have a cite for this?

I can almost guarantee that Trax will not be the opening day starter since DT has petty much already given that to Guthrie.

As for the BRob trade I'll believe it when I see it, and I don't believe I'll see it.

[MikeAD]

Wow Steve Trachsel, the opening day starter. Looks like it will be a good day at the yard to get a souvenir baseball...

Buy one Boogs platter get one stray ball....

[ChaosLex]

Steve Trachsel as our Opening Day starter? I'm going to go out on a limb and guess this guy has no idea what he's talking about.

By the way, that's directed at Stark, not the original poster.

[mweb]

No more veteran starters with little to no upside! We have a lot of talented young starters, let them pitch.

[Moose Milligan]

Roberts isn't going anywhere.

Wait, sorry.

I don't THINK Roberts isn't going anywhere. Wouldn't want to confuse anyone.

[goodol23]

Do you have a cite for this?

http://insider.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?name=stark_jayson

ESPN Insider if you have it.....From main page go down to Jayson Stark.

[Bloopandablast]

STRIKE TWO -- Bird Land: An official of one club that has been in touch with the Orioles and Cubs predicts the Orioles will trade Brian Roberts to Wrigleyville in the third week of March. The most likely package continues to be Roberts and Jay Payton for Sean Gallagher, Ronny Cedeno and at least one more prospect.

Can you post a link to the trade rumor? Interestingly enough the Cubs played Cedeno in CF today. I guess partially in case the rumored deal falls through and partially because Pie has had a little.......physical discomfort lately.

Nevermind you just posted it.

[JCK]

The Trachsel info is hard to believe. Hard to see DT taking that spot from Guthrie. This also makes me doubt the Roberts info.

That would be a terrible trade btw.

[Mashed Potatoes]

Can we please stop coddling these young starters as if they haven't been pitching for likely over a decade!?!?!?

They're not going to see a large crowd and curl up into the fetal position. If Jeremy Guthrie was any more level headed Baltimore sports journalists would instantly die of boredom.

[blueberryale77]

STRIKE TWO -- Bird Land: An official of one club that has been in touch with the Orioles and Cubs predicts the Orioles will trade Brian Roberts to Wrigleyville in the third week of March. The most likely package continues to be Roberts and Jay Payton for Sean Gallagher, Ronny Cedeno and at least one more prospect.

The Orioles also have been telling clubs they'll add at least one more veteran starting pitcher before Opening Day. Translation: Kyle Lohse, if they can keep Scott Boras' asking price within reason.

At the moment, the Orioles are planning on Steve Trachsel as their Opening Day starter, just to take the heat off their younger pitchers. Which leads us to this question: What's the last team to start a free agent who signed a minor-league contract on Opening Day? If you can think of one, let us know, at uselessinfodept@yahoo.com.

So this is what journalism has come to? What a sad, sad commentary on the overall state or our culture. Whether it's sports, politics, or anything else, "all the news that's fit to print" these days seems to amount to nothing more than rumors steeped in innuendo. Where have all the real reporters gone?

[Camden_yardbird]

Trachsel being in the one spot is contrary to what I think is one of the main reasons hes here, trade commodity. Why would you decrease his trade value by starting him consistently against #1's.

[The Rick]

LOL, maybe this was the PR departments idea. What better way to make whatever fans are left excited about the Baby Birds than to let Trax take the mound on OD. My goodness, this can't be true.