Who needs a Brian Roberts update? You do, of course.
I’ve heard that Andy MacPhail is very much in favor of the notion of dealing Roberts to the Cubs, for the right price.
Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun quotes MacPhail as calling the Roberts situation a "logical question that will come next." Trading him now certainly fits into MacPhail’s all-out rebuilding plan; he’s their last valuable veteran commodity. Talks with the Cubs are expected to drag into spring as the teams decide which young pitchers and outfielders make sense, if any. Zrebiec cautions that the O’s might keep Roberts for now and trade him in July, though.
Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune notes that people close to Roberts say he’d waive his no-trade clause to come to Chicago. His salary would not pose a payroll problem for the Cubs, and Jim Hendry has approval to add a few more players before camp.
