FRIDAY, 7:42pm: I have it on good authority that Ceda has not, in fact, been added to any kind of offer to Baltimore. With minor league games having begun today, the O’s are still doing their due diligence. Dave van Dyck’s sources agree that no deal is imminent.
FRIDAY, 7:13am: We’ve actually got some movement this morning on the Brian Roberts front. According to Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times, the Cubs have added hard-throwing 21 year-old reliever Jose Ceda to their offer. They’d also send Sean Gallagher, Ronny Cedeno, and Donald Veal to Baltimore. The Cubs had been holding out on Ceda, a nasty relief prospect. With him included, they’d be sending their three best pitching prospects (according to Baseball America) in the 4-for-1 deal.
Wittenmyer also notes that the deal could be expanded to a 5-for-2 with cash if Jason Marquis and Jay Payton are included. He believes a deal will get done before Opening Day, but it may go down to the wire.
