Odds and Ends: Murphy, Vizquel, Roberts

-The braves need to go ahead and trade tex for another slugging first baseman and a starting pitcher. They don't need somebody that the won't resign because they if they got someone like youkilis they would let him go as soon as he's elgible for free agency.

I agree that a BRob deal is unlikely...this year. It seems to me that he could be a target over the offseason IF McPhail decides (correctly IMHO) to deal the club's vets prior to the deadline. In that case, it will be clear to Roberts and to the fans, that the club is truly committed to a full scale rebuilding; something Roberts has shown no interest in being a part of. Over the winter, it's also more likely that a club considering itself a contender in '09, would have a 2B slot open up. For now, I don't believe any contenders have a need at 2B. As such, it would seem fairly obvious BRob won't be changing addresses.

The ONLY exceptions I could even imagine would be the Cardinals or Brewers. While neither club appears desperate for a 2B, Roberts would seem a clear upgrade over those currently manning the position for each respective team. I'll also add that Roberts' aw-shucks, good-guy image and gritty gamer play would instantly endear him to the middle-America fan base of either town; a perfect fit, in theory.

At present, Adam Kennedy- a similar, if less talented player- is at 2B in St. Louis, while the Rickie Weeks continues to disappoint in Milwaukee. Just as important, both teams have been described as leading candidates for All Star closer George Sherrill...the Orioles' OTHER big trade chip. Why is this significant? Because the Birds want impact players and Sherrill, by himself, may not be enough to extract a top name. Now consider, if you will, adding Roberts to the offer.

I'll admit, such blockbuster deals are...rare, to say the least. Still, it wouldn't be unprecedented or anything. The Brew Crew have already made one major move and, thus, seem (even) less likely to engage in such a mega-deal. That said, and just for the sake of fun, what would the Brewers offer for a Roberts/Sherrill package? Would something like Weeks/Gamel/Braddock work? What about Weeks/Escobar/Jeffress? or Weeks/Escobar/Gillespie/Braddock?

As for the Cards...well...we all know Sherrill ain't gonna return a stud like Rasmus, but what about a Sherrill/Roberts package? Could that net something like Rasmus/Todd/Kozma? Rasmus/Aaron Miles/Tyler Herron? It's an endlessly interesting idea...at least for O's fans.

The O's might as well claim Donnie Murphy - I'm sure he can fake shortstop adequately enough to be a better solution than anything they have on hand.