By Michael Glab | at
Brain Roberts angered pitcher Mark Hendrickson yesterday by stealing a couple of bases. The Florida Marlins starter in Friday’s spring game apparently thinks baserunners should lay low during the exhibition season.
The Cubs, though, had two scouts in the stands. The New York Times positioned the larceny as Roberts strutting (or shall we say galloping) his stuff for his potential future employers.
By Tim Dierkes | at
Jeff Zrebiec and Roch Kubatko of the Baltimore Sun are on top of the Brian Roberts rumors. Let’s discuss.
The Cubs had two scouts watching Roberts play yesterday, so this thing is still alive and kicking. The Sun gets the impression that the Mark DeRosa heart surgery does add some urgency for the Cubs. Perhaps this means they’ll concede a little bit extra on their offer.
The authors reiterate Ronny Cedeno and Sean Gallagher as part of the deal. They say the O’s might want Jose Ceda or Donald Veal as the third player, and could ask for a fourth as well. It’s been said that the Cubs are unwilling to part with Ceda. We’re probably a few weeks from completion but a deal seems plenty possible.
By Tim Dierkes | at
ESPN’s Peter Gammons has a new blog post with some hot stove info.
By Tim Dierkes | at
Nothing groundbreaking on the Brian Roberts front, but here’s the latest from Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun. Zrebiec says the O’s won’t send their scout to watch the Cubs until next week. It’s still looking like Ronny Cedeno, Sean Gallagher, and one or two others. Zrebiec adds:
Both sides remain optimistic that a deal could get done.
This is obviously dragging, but the Orioles have no incentive to rush.
By Tim Dierkes | at
Time for a new series here at MLBTR called Blocked Prospects. We’ll name some position players with Double A or better experience who seem to be buried on their current team’s depth chart.
One such player is Cubs second baseman/center fielder Eric Patterson, who turns 25 in April. Patterson hit .297/.362/.455 in Triple A last year. Baseball America applauds his speed and surprising power, but isn’t keen on his defense. Patterson is able to draw a walk, something his brother Corey never figured out. Patterson is behind Mark DeRosa, Mike Fontenot, Ronny Cedeno, Sam Fuld, and Felix Pie in the eyes of the Cubs; repeated tardiness last year didn’t help.
With a .268/.332/.422 projection from Baseball Prospectus, Patterson’s bat would be league average at second base or center field. He could make sense as Brian Roberts’ replacement in Baltimore. He could be useful in Minnesota, where center field and second base are unsettled. Patterson could provide competition for Jose Lopez in Seattle. The Giants need any kind of position-playing talent, though their outfield is more than full. San Diego is somewhat feasible, especially since Kevin Towers and Jim Hendry often match up for deals. What kind of future do you see for Eric Patterson?
By Tim Dierkes | at
Links, rumors…
By Tim Dierkes | at
Yesterday, SI.com’s Jon Heyman wrote that the Cubs-Orioles Brian Roberts trade talks still have a little life, and the O’s are scouting various young Cubs. On Sunday Jim Salisbury said the Orioles only needed to decide which pitchers they want to complete a deal.
Today, Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times checks in with the latest. To begin with, Mark DeRosa’s heart complications seem under control, and won’t force the Cubs’ hand.
Wittenmyer adds that the ball is indeed in Baltimore’s court, and their scouts will need at least a week to observe various Cubs. He says the Orioles are requesting Ronny Cedeno, Sean Gallagher, and two more top youngsters. That steep price could cause the Cubs to turn to Coco Crisp or Marlon Byrd. However, neither the Red Sox nor the Rangers seem to value either as a fourth outfielder.
By Tim Dierkes | at
MONDAY: SI.com’s Jon Heyman says a Roberts to Chicago trade still has a little life, and the Orioles are scouting Cubs’ players. Meanwhile Jason Churchill wrote a few days ago that the O’s may require Felix Pie or Tyler Colvin instead of the Cubs’ apparent offer of Ronny Cedeno, Sean Gallagher, and Kevin Hart. Churchill says the O’s are also high on Eric Patterson.
SUNDAY: Check out this piece by Jim Salisbury of the Philadelphia Inquirer. Here’s the one-liner that has caught some readers’ attention:
Sources say that Orioles second baseman Brian Roberts will be traded to the Cubs as soon as the Orioles decide which pitchers they want in return.
All sorts of Cubs pitchers have been rumored in these talks: Sean Marshall, Sean Gallagher, Jason Marquis, Jose Ceda, Donald Veal. It’s been said that the Cubs won’t part with Ceda. My best guess is that this deal does get done before Opening Day.
By Tim Dierkes | at
Ken Rosenthal is on the scene with some new rumors.
By Tim Dierkes | at
Here’s the latest.
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