Roberts, Orioles Narrowing Gap On Extension?

"Perhaps this spring, we'll be spared the constant Roberts trade rumors."

There is always Peavy ;)

Kidding.

They might be far enough along to consider it an almost done deal and need a couple days to hammer out the remaining details before announcing something.

"As much as I like B-Rob, I do not want to sign him to an extension. I feel like it's going to be another bad decision based on hometown love for the player - similar to Melvin Mora's contract. "

You're right, why bother having one of the better fielding second basemen and arguable one of the best leadoff men in the game locked down for the next 3-4 years? Sorry for the sarcasm, but I just don't understand when people say stuff like that. The difference between Roberts and Mora's extensions would be that Roberts would get his when he was 31 -- Mora got his when he was 34. If there were a prospect or two on the near horizon maybe it wouldn't be such a good idea, but that isn't the case.

"Perhaps this spring, we'll be spared the constant Roberts trade rumors."

Roberts is extended and then traded. Chew on that.

I don't give Roberts more than 2 years.

Why would Roberts want to extend his contract when the O's are about ten years away from contending? They have four teams to go through to make the playoffs.

Well what is it rockstrongo 10 yrs - 5 yrs can't make up your mind? Theres only 2 teams in the East to worry about and thats the skanks and the sux. TB had 1 good yr. we still have to see if they can repeat and the jays well duh ain't nothing. Then the skanks arn't a lock into anything and the sux aren't gettin any younger. The AM EAST is up for grabs! Stop being a Bird hatter and go root for your cubs or royals.

"You're right, why bother having one of the better fielding second basemen and arguable one of the best leadoff men in the game locked down for the next 3-4 years?"

The concept of a 'lead-off' man is so overrated. Odds are, he will only 'lead-off' once the entire game - in the first at-bat. Otherwise, whoever starts the inning is the 'lead-off' man.

And in 3-4 years, who's to say that he will still be one of the better 'lead-off' men anyways. His best asset is his speed - SBs and stretching singles into doubles. Do you honestly think that his speed isn't goign to decrease (possible dramatically) between the ages of 31 and 35 (w/a 4 yr ext)? Without his speed, his defense will decline, and what he brings on offense will also decline. Maybe this year he will be the same B-Rob, and worth the 10m per season, but I'd be very concerned about years 3 and 4. Not to mention, we won't be competing in that time-frame anyways. If we are, it's during year 4, when B-Rob's value will have declined drastically anyway. Trade him for the prospects that will be there in 3-4 years and contributing.

"The difference between Roberts and Mora's extensions would be that Roberts would get his when he was 31 -- Mora got his when he was 34."

Again, I'm not saying they are the same, but in the end, I expect the same result - a player getting paid far more than his value suggests, because he was a hometown favorite. Do you HONESTLY think that B-Rob will be a 10m/year player at age 33, 34, 35?! I'm not saying he will decline like Mora did after signing the extension, but we will still be stuck with an overpriced, older player during years 3 and 4 of that deal - if not right from the start.

"If there were a prospect or two on the near horizon maybe it wouldn't be such a good idea, but that isn't the case."

Why do we need a prospect or two on the horizon or near? We aren't competing anytime on the 'horizon or near'. We aren't competing until our pitching prospects establish themselves in the bigs - which likely won't be for 3-4 years (again, when B-Rob is old and declining). If we are trading B-Rob, I would assume we WOULD be targeting that MI prospect that we need - whether it be SS or 2B. And who's to say that someone like Scott or Huff can't be moved for that prospect.

Signing B-Rob is just a shortsighted move. Please the fans by keeping the sweetheart, but strap the team with a player making 10m a year who's on the wrong side of 30 and relies on speed for his biggest contributions to the team. Yes, the team will be better for the next 2 years, but odds are it won't be when we are actually looking to compete further down the road.

How is Roberts worth 4/44 if Hudson can't get more than 1/5-6?

Roberts is basically the same player as Hudson but he has superior speed.

No way I give Roberts more than 3/30.

Orlando is a good glove too isn' he?

I place BRob's true value in his onbase and leadoff skills. This is what wouldnt show up in his final stats, and something a casual fan would never be able to understand. His contact rates are good and has an extraordinary ability to hack off pitches. How many times have we become accustomed to his 10+ pitch ABs? Yankee and Boston fans don't mind one way or another seeing Orlando, but they hate seeing BRob come to them plate in a crucial point in the game. Statistically they might look similar but they aren't. There must some other stay that can account for their true value differential.

and Tim... As much as i love this site, i disagree with your opinion. Sorry. Roberts+Peavy does not=Teixiera=Sabathia=Burnett. sorry.

an up date from thursday!? Tim is reporting from the future!