On The Failed Brian Roberts Talks

That would have been a steal for the Orioles. Brian Roberts is overrated. Gallagher and a prospect alone should have been enough for Roberts but it seems the Orioles got greedy. I'm glad the trade didnt work out since Gallagher has seemed to fit in nicely in the rotation, not to mention Cedeno is a nice backup and Veal still could make it to the majors. AND, Mark Derosa isnt doing to shabby himself.

The O's should look to the Rockies and the Reds for a SS. Both teams had their starter on the DL for a signficant amount of time and both teams had good performances out of the replacements. Clint Barmes, for instance. He's on the DL still, but due to come off it shortly and has no place on the Rockies starting lineup. The O's could probably nab him for very little.

Not that I would like to see that happen as I'm a Rays fan. But, I think it'd make sense for them.

I used to think that the Orioles were the kings of "overvaluing their own prospects". You Cubs fans put us to shame. For an All-Star 2B in his prime, the Cubs offered a pitcher who has walked 4.5+ per 9IP at AA for the second straight year, a number 4 or 5 starter, and "a nice backup". MacPhail was right not to pull the trigger on that deal, especially since there is nothing even remotely ready to step in at 2B or SS.

And some people here think the Cubs were "lowballing" the O's...ahem Dark, ahem....

Cubs Prospects = LOL!

Yeah, Gallagher is a pretty awful prospect with an ERA under 4 and having went 6 innings with 0 earned runs in Tampa in his last start. He is just terrible. Soto, who baseball prospectus calls "already one of the best catchers in the game" is just awful too.

BeanoCook = LOL!

"Wasn't Barmes made the everyday 2B before getting hurt? "

Yeah, he was playing pretty regularly at 2B before getting hurt, but he had still played more games at SS this year than 2B or 3B; and his fielding percentage was .991, so he did a pretty good job, I think. And he also showed flashes of the Barmes everyone thought he'd become.

But yr right, the Rox may want to just hold onto him and put him back at 2B now that Tulo's back.

Count me in with the skeptics about DeRosa. I did not think he would be playing as well as he is.

However, if the trade would have went down the injuries to Soriano and the ineffectiveness of Pie wouldn't have hurt.

That said, it doesn't seem who the Cubs have plugged in. Reclamation projects have performed well. Hats off to them ... for now.

Yeah thats the offer the Cubs gave? Where is the one the O's wanted? I remember Pie being in there... isn't he in AAA... again? How about Rich Hill? Also in AAA?

So I guess it is pretty funny both ways. Cubs called Hill a top of the rotation guy.

Roberts is still a top 5 2B. For 2B he is 4th in OPS, 5th in Runs scored, 5th in Hits, 1st in SB, 1st in doubles, tied for 1st in Triples and 1st in Walks.

Not nearly enough going to the O's. The two draft choices they'd get for Roberts are worth a lot more.

Yeah, thats a real "lowball" offer Darkstar...

Do you really believe that, or are you arguing just because your ego won't allow you to admit you are wrong? I think we pretty much all know the answer to that...

Hey, I thought you didn't read my posts anyway! Hahaha...

Gallagher, Cedeno, and Veal for Roberts???

for a cub homer thats a good deal, i guess.

Suppose Pie, Cedeno, and Gallagher is gonna net Sabathia too...

It's a good non-trade for the Cubs. They obviously don't need Roberts. They keep a promising pitcher in Gallagher who's certain to be a part of their rotation for the next 6 years. Tough to trade a #3 starter for a couple years of a second baseman...especially when offense isn't your problem and you've got a good second baseman in DeRosa, a good reserve in Fontenot, and a 2nd base prospect who's doing pretty well filling in for Soriano in left field in Patterson. It's worked out nicely for the Cubs. And as someone mentioned, the Cubs still have assets to trade for a player they may actually need.

I'm not sure what the Orioles have gained from keeping Roberts. Maybe somebody will offer them a hyped prospect. Maybe not. Unless a team gets desperate for a second baseman, they're probably stuck with him for a while.

The biggest laugh is the draft pick argument. Now THAT's a sound strategy. Go the route where your LEAST likely to get a major league player. McPhail tried that one in Chicago. Care to guess how many major leaguers he got with all those draft picks? Zero. And he got to spend all the money he wanted. He wouldn't be dumb enough to try that again...would he?

Keeping ROBERTS is hurting the team? How so? The Cub's couldn't give in return the O's needs.Why in the hell would Galagher be a center piece with Liz,Lowen,Penn,Olson,Burress,Tilman, not to mention Erbe and the other outstanding arm at single A.There's no way I would Roberts up for for that.The CUB'S didn't match up well with the O's needs with position players.Ceneno is a back up at best lol! The O'S have more younger talented arms then the few I mentioned.GO BALTIMORE! I have really enjoyed watching them play this yr.

Well guy, you got one thing right...

"Having said that, the O's will probably dry up and lose the next two games in grand fashion and drop the series."

Roberts went 1 for 4 and they sure could have used Gallagher tonight with the Cubs batting around in the first inning...

That being said, I like the O's and I like Roberts. I have respect for him, and think he is a very good player. I just think for the O's, keeping him didn't make sense. He would have been better off with the Cubs and the O's would have been better off with Gallagher, a better shortstop, a pitching prospect, and better draft pick this year.