Proposed Brian Roberts trade that fell through???

[Wrigley Rat]

I am hearing from a really reliable source that the Cubs were talking to the Orioles on Friday morning about a potential deal where switch-hitting leadoff man Brian Roberts would be sent to the Cubs along with a minor leaguer.

 

According to my source the O's were going to pay 20 million of Roberts salary if they could get Jeff Samardzija, highly touted prospect Hak-Ju Lee, power hitter Jake Fox, prospect Alex Maestri and Mike Fontenot.

 

There was a couple of sticking points for the deal but did not kill that did not kill it. The Cubs did not know if the Shark would be willing to waive his no trade clause and whether the Cubs could afford to take on Roberts contract at 4 years 20 million dollars. As it neared the afternoon the Cubs brass got the O.K. to add the money and Jeff said he would waive his no-trade clause for a chance to start in Baltimore.

 

All this work was for nothing because when Andy MacPhail presented the deal to Peter Angelos, he vetoed the trade. There was no reason giving by my source why Peter would veto such a trade when he is getting 5 good young ball players, 3 with ML experience and two that could be ready in a year or two. Not to mention that the O's would get our #2 prospect and #10 prospect according to baseballamerica.com.

 

I honestly think the O's would have gotten a little better of a deal than the Cubs would because the Cubs are giving up quite a bit of talent for Roberts and a minor leaguer but they are in win now mode so I would have approved the trade.

 

The Cubs would have gotten a good 2nd baseman for the next 4 year at a cheap price. Not only would he provide the Cubs with stolen bases but he is a true leadoff hitter. It's a shame this deal did not go through because I feel this would have put this team over the top.

 

The Orioles would have gotten a guy that could immediately step into the rotation in Shark and at 2nd base in Fontenot. Not only that they would get a really good power bat in Jake Fox. He could play some outfield, 3rd, and 1st but would primarily be their DH. The O's then would receive a really good defensive shortstop with an good bat but is a couple of years away in Lee and Alex Maestri could step in as a top notch reliever next season. What a young good team the O's would have for years to come!

 

It is really crazy how now we hear trades that were purposed but did not happen. In the past we heard Nate McLouth for Felix Pie straight up, the Cubs turned that one down a couple of years ago. Mark Prior, Felix Pie, and prospect for Miguel Tejeda and Erik Bedard, the Cubs also turn down that one years ago as well. But this one is hardly the Cubs fault. I guess we can hope for this to be revisited maybe through waivers? Not likely.

 

http://cubsrumorsandnews.blogspot.com/

[Wrigley Rat]

Not sure I believe it, but I would have definitely done that trade if I were the Cubs! Not so sure if I were the Orioles.

[Little Slide Rooter]

It is good to know that Samrdzjia would be willing to waive his NTC if it comes down to it. Maybe we can deal him in the offseason.

[A-Cal]

i wish i never would have read this

[17 Seconds]

I could have stopped reading after this-

 

According to my source the O's were going to pay 20 million of Roberts salary

 

so instead of trading him to the cubs a year ago, they wait....sign him to an extension, then less than a year later they trade him to the cubs for a lesser package AND have to eat an enormous chunk of salary

 

righhhttt

[Wrigley Rat]

I could have stopped reading after this-

 

According to my source the O's were going to pay 20 million of Roberts salary

 

so instead of trading him to the cubs a year ago, they wait....sign him to an extension, then less than a year later they trade him to the cubs for a lesser package AND have to eat an enormous chunk of salary

 

righhhttt

I know - I've been thinking a lot about this website. I would imagine this is a ploy to get some traffic on the site. Hard to understand though because I have been checking this website for a few months and he has never done anything like this.

 

I would imagine that this is all possible due to the Cubs not being able to add much salary, but I would imagine the Orioles would have insisted on a few blue chip prospects like Andrew Cashner, Chris Carpenter, or Jay Jackson. Why would they want Alex Maestri? He is eligible to be a Rule V Draft pick this offseason.

 

Still, it's fun to imagine.

[17 Seconds]

Even if the package was better, I still wouldn't have believed the rumor. Why would the orioles finally sign Roberts to an extension and then eat 20 million of it to trade him? Why wouldn't they want Roberts at 4/20?

[Little Slide Rooter]

The package itself is very believable, but the financial part is what I find hard to believe.

[Cubswin11]

Brian Roberts and Jake Peavy were both signing GO CUBS GO!!! in a bar just before this trade fell through...

[Outshined_One]

Brian Roberts and Jake Peavy were both signing GO CUBS GO!!! in a bar just before this trade fell through...

 

They know ASL?

[NCCubFan]

Brian Roberts and Jake Peavy were both signing GO CUBS GO!!! in a bar just before this trade fell through...

 

They know ASL?

They're multi-talented. I wonder if they can sing as well as they sign. :D

[RedFlash]

The package itself is very believable, but the financial part is what I find hard to believe.

 

I guess we can hope for this to be revisited maybe through waivers? Not likely.

 

Most of the article is pretty far-fetch, but who is too say it can't be revisited through waivers? Buster Olney once pined that alot of high salary players should/could make it through waivers without being claimed because a lot of teams are finanically handcuff. IMO there are only two AL contending teams that have both needs and wants at 2B; the Angels and the White Sox. And with the White Sox having waiver wire priority, Roberts would be almost the iciing on the cake for them. Could you imagine the WS fans if they could acquire Roberts after getting Peavy? Talk about annoyance to a NEW level. And that is the kind of jab both Kenny and Ozzie loves to take against the Cubs. So I would definately bank on the White Sox putting a claim on, only if they don't like Chris Getz enough at 2b. But if not the Angels would be a team THAT could put a claim on Roberts, and they do have the prospects to get it done.

 

As for the NL, Giants (Sanchez), Dodgers (Hudson), and Barmes (Rockies)--even tho Barmes sucks the Rockies are not going to add that kind of payroll---don't need a 2B. NL Central has the Cards and the Brewers already with solid 2B options (Schumaker/DeRosa and Felipe Lopez) and no other team in the NL Central would put a claim on for Roberts. As for the East, the Phillies have Utley, the Mets are both out of it, IMO and Castillo, the Braves would be an interesting watch seeing as Kelly Johnson sucks, but Martin Prado has been productive (.310 .372 .468 .840) which would basically eliminate the Braves.

 

Which means there would be a fighting chance that the O's and the Cubs could revisited talks, if there were talks to begin with? All this hot air is for nothing if AMP can't convice Angelos that trading Roberts is in the organization best interests.

[Post Count Padder]

Yeah, the money aspect is kinda hard to believe. But what isn't is Angelos nixing the deal.

[wrigley23]

Angelos is an idiot. There is a reason they have finished in the bottom of that division for so many years. While they have great young talent, it will take that & then some to climb that hill. Hanging on to Roberts like a cherished baseball card makes zero sense on that team if your objective is to win ala the TB Rays. Ironically, Roberts is exactly what the Cubs have needed two years in a row. Oh well. You watch though...Hendry will get him "Gaetti-style" in about three years \:D/

[17 Seconds]

Angelos is an idiot. There is a reason they have finished in the bottom of that division for so many years. While they have great young talent, it will take that & then some to climb that hill. Hanging on to Roberts like a cherished baseball card makes zero sense on that team if your objective is to win ala the TB Rays. Ironically, Roberts is exactly what the Cubs have needed two years in a row. Oh well. You watch though...Hendry will get him "Gaetti-style" in about three years \:D/

 

all the cubs needed was the ability to hit in the postseason. unless roberts made everybody else in the lineup turn into a playoff badass, then no, he wasn't exactly what the cubs needed.

[Derwood]

i'm calling bull-honky on all of this

[jiml60]

Angelos is an idiot. There is a reason they have finished in the bottom of that division for so many years. While they have great young talent, it will take that & then some to climb that hill. Hanging on to Roberts like a cherished baseball card makes zero sense on that team if your objective is to win ala the TB Rays. Ironically, Roberts is exactly what the Cubs have needed two years in a row. Oh well. You watch though...Hendry will get him "Gaetti-style" in about three years \:D/

 

I pray that Hendry is not the GM of this team in three years.

[coreyMVP]

Angelos is an idiot. There is a reason they have finished in the bottom of that division for so many years. While they have great young talent, it will take that & then some to climb that hill. Hanging on to Roberts like a cherished baseball card makes zero sense on that team if your objective is to win ala the TB Rays. Ironically, Roberts is exactly what the Cubs have needed two years in a row. Oh well. You watch though...Hendry will get him "Gaetti-style" in about three years \:D/

 

I pray that Hendry is not the GM of this team in three years.

I'm hoping he isn't the GM NEXT year.

[Derwood]

Angelos is an idiot. There is a reason they have finished in the bottom of that division for so many years. While they have great young talent, it will take that & then some to climb that hill. Hanging on to Roberts like a cherished baseball card makes zero sense on that team if your objective is to win ala the TB Rays. Ironically, Roberts is exactly what the Cubs have needed two years in a row. Oh well. You watch though...Hendry will get him "Gaetti-style" in about three years \:D/

 

I pray that Hendry is not the GM of this team in three years.

I'm hoping he isn't the GM NEXT year.

 

sorry about your luck

[10man]

methinks the right url of that sight is: http://cubsbogusrumors.blogspot.com

[Backtobanks]

Angelos is an idiot. There is a reason they have finished in the bottom of that division for so many years. While they have great young talent, it will take that & then some to climb that hill. Hanging on to Roberts like a cherished baseball card makes zero sense on that team if your objective is to win ala the TB Rays. Ironically, Roberts is exactly what the Cubs have needed two years in a row. Oh well. You watch though...Hendry will get him "Gaetti-style" in about three years \:D/

 

I pray that Hendry is not the GM of this team in three years.

I'm hoping he isn't the GM NEXT year.

 

These threads will be half as many pages if Hendry is gone. If we get another GM, the posters will blame everything that goes wrong on Hendry. It's like Bush blaming Clinton for the first 6 years and then the democratic congress for the last two years of his administration. The "rumor" had Angelos nixing the deal and you're criticizing Hendry. :-k

[RynoRules]

http://blog.thepimp.net/public/images/mrbogus.jpg

[NCCubFan]

The "rumor" had Angelos nixing the deal and you're criticizing Hendry. :-k

That's because it's Hendry's fault he didn't hire a hit man to take out Angelos and make it MacPhail's decision. :D

[bannor10]

If there is one thing Milton Bradley and Latroy Hawkins have taught me is that not all players can perform up to their average stats when playing for the Cubs...Some players just cannot respond to the pressure...

[Backtobanks]

If there is one thing Milton Bradley and Latroy Hawkins have taught me is that not all players can perform up to their average stats when playing for the Cubs...Some players just cannot respond to the pressure...

 

Imagine if they played in NY.