I would hope that if Ceda goes in the deal, that Sherill is part of the return package.

If Hendry is able to turn a package of unproven (yet by all accounts highly talented) prospects and Marquis into Roberts, Crisp, Sherill, and Payton....

Wow.

So the O's foresee Gallagher as a potential #3 starter, which I believe is the rotation spot we seek to fill as well.

You can't have enough pitching, and now the package could also include the likes of Ceda, Pie, Patterson and others. Way too big a price to pay for an above average middle infielder and a journeyman outfielder (Payton).

I'd prefer to deal Marshall, Cedeno and Marquis (giving the O's two return starters), and tell them to take it or leave it.

This has all the earmarks of a terrible deal.

Lastly, Samardjia looked great yesterday. Just a first outing, but the kid is really coming along!

Looks like Baker is on a roll in Cincy, the Reds signed Corey Patterson and Jerry Hairston Jr. I wonder if Neifi is next?

Please God, make the rumors stop!!!

nick,

I would imagine Nefi and Tony Womack will show up soon. I have no idea why they would sign Corey Patterson as they have another surplus of outfielders. Of course they might be looking to stock up since Griffey and Dunn will probably be gone next year.

IS anyone else going to still be a cubs fan after next season??? Giving away this much talent for a small upgrade at second would hurt the cubs more than you can imagine. Someone tell me why we need crisp and Payton. If Marquis is unhappy BOOHOO, he signed a contracgt and we can unload him at the break. I would definetly roll the dice on Pie instead of two worthless outfielders. Coco Crisp lost his job to a rookie. Jay Payton was never god. We already have these type of players. After watching Ceda throw he better not be in any deal.

I personally hope that the Roberts deal dies if it is going to be for the amount of talent the Orioles are seeking now. I would acquiesce with Gallagher, Cedeno, Murton, and Marquis. Ceda, Pie, Patterson, are all guys we should keep.

I agree, it's way too much for Roberts and some bogus OF's

Markakis is good...why not trade DLee and Aram and big Z for him?!? You've got to be kidding me with these rumors. It sounds like when my eldest son is scamming my youngest son trading baseball cards. Lets see 3 of our top prospects,(a potential future cf, starter, and closer for years to come), for a 2nd baseman and a journeyman OLD "Craig Monroe" type? DON'T DO IT! Remember the Pierre deal!!!!

Interesting article from MSNBC on Piniella's future in baseball.

http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/23456465/

I am going to open a can of worms: We need Ronny Cedeno. Theriot is a scrappy gamer, which basically means he doesn't have the talent to play his position. He is a below-average defensive SS, and other than one month last year, not that good an offensive SS either. Ronny can pick it, and though he has not impressed so far at the plate, he tore up AAA last year and has nothing left to prove. I think he is the best SS on the roster, and going into the season with only Theriot, Andres Blanco, and Cintron at that position is asking for TROUBLE! In the meantime, it's not like DeRosa is chopped liver either.

Hilarious Nick!!!Go Dusty! We will probably see Goodwin/Ramon Hernandez and Novoa in Cincy Red soon!

I agree with Keith Morland...Cedeno might just finish the year in SS.

Great name BTW Keith!

Yes Cory I will remember the Pierre deal, when we unloaded some of our rich pitching talent that panned out for the Marlins so well. Sergio Mitre last year: 27 games 149 IP 80 K's 4.65 ERA and 1.48 WHIP. Ricky Nolasco last year: 5 games 21.1 IP 5.48 ERA. As well as the great Renyel Pinto last year: 58.2 IP 3.68 ERA 56 K's.

My point is that this team is pretty damn close to a pennant and adding a legitimate leadoff hitter is another large step closer to being a great team. Also, Pierre was under contract for only one year and we let him go, Roberts is on for this year and next year. Our prospects hardly ever pan out, think about it, who can you say has really turned into a special player from our farm system in recent memory? I'll give you Big Z, Dontrelle Willis, Rich Hill, and even Jon Garland if you want to push it but other than that, who have we developed?

There have been too many David Kelton/Jason Dubois/Corey Patterson/Bobbie Brownlie/Ben Christiensen type of players (I could go on if you'd like) coming out of our farm system in the last 20+ years and this team should pull out all of the stops to win now. Not to mention trade these guys while they still have value.

If we do get Roberts and a #3 type starter before the trade deadline we should be right there with the Mets as favorites in the NL. The Cubs have to go for it this year and next cause Lou is retiring after 2009 and we'll have an old roster by then.

Let's get Roberts.

This guy Roberts is a leadoff hitter, BUT I wouldn't give up Gallagher, Marshall, Cedeno or another with big league experience. Maybe 1 and someone who hasn't had a chance at the big leagues. We DON'T need "has been" players who are on their last leg because they are on their way out. We ALWAYS settle with something or someone with a crazy trade. It's been 100 freakin years! We should be telling Baltimore that we are in charge and have them by the balls, along with any other MLB team with all the pitching prospects we have. WE should be in charge and if they don't like it, the hell with em. Once agian, PITCHING WINS at this level!

Scott, I agree with you completely. Getting Roberts really balances out the lineup:

Roberts
Fukudome
Lee
Soriano
Ramirez
Soto
Pie
Theriot

We finally have a bunch of speed near the top and some guys to drive them in. Let's look at who we would be giving up:

-Gallagher: blocked and probably wont get a chance to contribute this year...he is still a ways away from being good too,as we all saw last season.
-E-Pat: Blocked by so many (including Roberts if we get him), so he is expendable
-Matt Murton: all he does is hit singles, so if we can dump him, it would be awesome
-Ceda: I doubt he gets moved, and the same with Pie (Adam Jones)
-Ronny: He sucks. Boo Hoo.
-Marshall: This one really can hurt if he gets moved WITH Gallagher, because there goes our pitching depth.

Basically, we are trying to win right now. And adding Roberts reall helps this lineup while potentially dumping some decent prospects or blocked players and some crappy big leaguers. I'm for it.

Hey CUBS Fans
I am back from other places in the world and now ready for some CUBS Baseball!!

Keith and Scott, I could not have said it better! I have been a Cedeno backer since day one!! He is an above average SS and he has been tearing it up in AAA. Give this guy the job, Roberts at 2nd and DeRo as Super-Sub!! Ladies and gentlemen that will get the job done up the middle!! Our most pressing need.

Now, pitching of course is always a need however we are rich in quality arms. Be creative, be patient and play out Angelos. Give him Gally, EP, Marquis and Theriot perhaps for Roberts and to hell with Jay Payton. Concede CF to either Sam Fuld and/or Pie. Both of them are solid and have measurable upside.

Then go get Crisp to be the fourth outfielder for Murton. Maybe Marquis fits into that as well.

I like "Z"/Lilly/Dempster/Hill and Samardjia as our SR and the following lineup:

Roberts
Fuks
DLee
Aram
Soriano
DeRo
Pie
Soto

Okay gentlemen, I'm ready for the "constructive" criticism.... lol

GO CUBBIES!!!

Gentlemen, please insert Cedeno in DeRo's slot. Igot ahead of myself.....

I agree with everybody in the don't make a deal camp. I mean, come on, Brian Roberts is good, and yes if the Cubs are still scuffling at the trade deadline, no doubt that Baltimore will want to get rid of him, but I really like this team as is, and giving up that much talent is absurd. Gallagher has a ton of potential, I classify him as untouchable based on the fact that, seriously, what are the odds that none of the Marquis/Lieber/Dempster remain in the rotation? Low. Injuries could pop up, and I am not sold on...well, any of them. We'll see how serious Lou really is about this "not being the year" for Gallagher and Samardjzia once Marquis ERA balloons above 5, Lieber gets hurt and Ryan Dempster remembers he is Ryan Dempster. Sadly, he is the one I am most excited about, just because you aren't quite sure what you are getting in a starting role.

Crisp is a huge bum. More overpaid than Mike Hampton. Pie is a great fielder, and even if he doesn't develop offensively, there is still the trade deadline to make a move. Since he is projected as the 8th hitter, all he has to do is be decent. Remember, the White Sox won 90 games in 2006 with a .225 hitter who can't field like Pie patrolling center the whole season. You can have a weak link. They just didn't make the playoffs because they are in the AL central. And .225 for Pie is the worst case scenario, he probably will be better than THAT, and his ceiling is very high, but he's gotta play. Frankly I was surprised they pulled the plug on him so early last season. It's a long season, if it takes him a couple months, that's not a big deal.

Pretty much, we have a lot of good talent, why trade it all away now? Most of the guys we have been talking about are on track to spend most of the season somewhere in the minors, so, since they have big league experience and have certainly proved they are able at the minor league level, another few months there would really raise their stock and we could get more for them in a deal for Roberts or Burnett or somebody. Dare I say Sabathia?

For everyone who thinks the Roberts deal is bad because we have a decent 2nd baseman already. Hello, we are not really trading for a 2nd baseman. We are trading for a leadoff hitter who just happens play 2nd base. WE DON'T HAVE A LEADOFF HITTER. We have a homerun hitter who has speed at the top of the order. Roberts makes so much sense the same way, Lofton did for the Cubs in '03 and Pierre did the same year for the Marlins.
As for Gallagher, he is a possible #3 on the Orioles, a loser rebuilding team. Gallagher is lucky if he is a 5th starter on out team. While he may have some talent, he is no #3 starter.

Fukudome just hit his first homerun as a Chicago Cub. Hopefully the first of many....

WOW!!! Free Speech, that great American tradition, is on the march today. Our 2 cents worth could be worth a lot more than that if it gives us some relief from the current slow death of nothing happening.

What to add: The debate is over the relative worth of stars, fading stars, might be's, have been's (duds), and never were's. In an environment having both budget limitations and a rare chance to be an elite team, the trick is to GM our way to the most productive mix of the first 3 skills' categories. We are all trying to help, and some of the time we all have our heads in dark places.

Reactions to comments: Roberts and a ("dud of") is likely a dud with a contract the O's want to move (who can fill in adequately for us) rather than Roberts and yet another good prospect instead of the "dud". I haven't seen stats that say Theriot is a below average ss (there may be some), but he has a good package of physical skills, mental skills, an all out demeanor and he makes the plays. He is a keeper.

We don't need Crisp if Pie remains. With Jones in cf and some power in the corners, I can't see why the O's will insist on or even want Pie. Pie should be our starting cf. Crisp is a proven excellent of and a decent table setter. The rookie who beat him out was valued as a star in trade discussions for Santana.

Our top 5 prospects (Vitters, Soto, Colvin, Ceda and Gallagher) are duly noted, valued highly and keepers except for trades involving stars and similar prospects to themselves that add talent needed more in our pipeline. (Pie and Cedeno have too many major league at bats to be prospects, but they are top "might be's".

Given the Cubs' "in place or at the ready" depth, Gallagher, Cedeno and Colvin are tradeable as are decent-to-good talents like Murton, Patterson, Hart and Petrick. Not all are tradeable (because we need some depth). But some are to meet our needs if we aspire to be a top 3 or 4 team in the NL and have a good short series shot against the D-backs, Rockies and Mets. One need to be met is likely a stud pitcher, and Gallagher, Ceda and Dempster are doubtful candidates. So we need to keep some trading ammo for a Burnett or a Lowe type before the trading deadline (when our real needs are determinable).

Winning a short series or two in the fall means we are in the WORLD SERIES. It's nice to have a goal like that!

I agree with Eric, do the trade. With Roberts we will have several different ways to win. We can win with homeruns on a regular basis and when we go up against a top notch starter we can pull out the speedster and basehit player like Theriot, Roberts, Fuko and play some small ball.

Pinella can use his creativeness with that kind of line-up

Barry: "He is an above average SS and he has been tearing it up in AAA"

I guess you have been out of the country to realize that Cedeno's potential has not been realized. That he does dumb mistakes again and again. That he does great in the VWL and AAA, but sucks in the Majors. He is error prone. Base running gaffes. Drops infield pop-ups. In September 2005, he showed promise. Now, he's fool's gold and out of options.

Let him go to the AL and fulfill his greatness while we enjoy an already experienced, two-time All Star with fantastic range and speed.

Roberts would be great.........At the right price. There are alot of players I would like to have but at what price will it cost. Roberst is a small upgrade at second but a badly needed bat at the leadoff spot. But again if only at the right price. Someone earlier said it. We should be the ones in the driver seat with Baltimore. JH can't be pushed around by Andy Macfailure.