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Baseball Notes: Orioles less likely to trade Roberts
By The Associated Press
Thursday, March 27, 2008 | No comments posted.
While the Baltimore Orioles say they plan to keep Brian Roberts around, the Los Angeles Angels aren’t sure if Kelvim Escobar will be back at all this season.
Orioles president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail said Wednesday he’s not close to completing a deal that would send Roberts to the Chicago Cubs, and the two-time All-Star will likely begin the season as Baltimore’s second baseman.
“I’ve mentioned to Brian that I think it’s unlikely that something happens,” MacPhail said in Florida.
Roberts has been the subject of trade speculation for three months, and the Cubs would like to add him to their revamped lineup as a leadoff hitter. MacPhail has already dealt away shortstop Miguel Tejada to Houston and left-handed ace Erik Bedard to Seattle as part of his overhaul of an Orioles franchise that hasn’t had a winning season in a decade.
Thus far, MacPhail has not been presented with a suitable package of players in exchange for Roberts.
The Cubs and Orioles have been talking about Roberts since before spring training, and scouts from each team have been watching the other’s players in major and minor league games for weeks.
The 29-year-old Roberts has met several times with MacPhail this spring, most recently last weekend, to be updated on the progress of trade discussions.
“I think with each passing hour, at this point, it’s less and less likely,” MacPhail said. “The further we get this close into (the regular season), the greater likelihood that we’re going to start with what we have.”
Escobar, an 18-game winner for the Angels last season, told reporters he has a tear in his pitching shoulder and might need surgery. The team hadn’t confirmed that diagnosis by the end of Wednesday’s 7-5 loss to the Chicago Cubs.
The 31-year-old right-hander said he would continue to try and strengthen his arm, but admitted surgery could be a possibility. Escobar, 18-7 with a 3.40 ERA last season, hasn’t pitched this spring.
Angels manager Mike Scioscia said he’s holding out hope that Escobar will pitch this season. But it seems certain he won’t do so for quite some time.
“There’s no certainty where Kelvim’s going to be a month from now,” Scioscia said in Tempe, Ariz. “But we’re still optimistic that we’re going to see him at some point. We still feel our pitching is a strength. If we start losing a couple of more guys, some of our answers might have to come from outside the organization, but we’re not to that point yet.”
The Angels also will be without John Lackey to start the season. The 29-year-old right-hander has a strained right triceps. He won 19 games and led the AL with a 3.01 ERA last year.
At Surprise, Ariz., Gerald Laird beat out Jarrod Saltalamacchia for the job as Texas’ starting catcher. Saltalamacchia was optioned to minor league camp.
At Peoria, Ariz., reliever Chris Reitsma left Mariners camp after learning he would not make Seattle’s roster for the start of the season.
At a morning meeting, Reitsma was told the Mariners wanted him to continue his throwing program into early April with a possibility of being added to the roster later.
“He is going to go home and think about it,” manager John McLaren said. “He’s not sure what he wants to do right now. We’re hopeful that he does think about continuing his throwing program.”
In other news, All-Star right fielder Alex Rios and Toronto are closing in on a six-year contract extension through 2014 that would guarantee him about $65 million. The deal might include a 2015 option that could make it worth about $80 million.
Orioles president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail said Wednesday he’s not close to completing a deal that would send Roberts to the Chicago Cubs, and the two-time All-Star will likely begin the season as Baltimore’s second baseman.
“I’ve mentioned to Brian that I think it’s unlikely that something happens,” MacPhail said in Florida.
Roberts has been the subject of trade speculation for three months, and the Cubs would like to add him to their revamped lineup as a leadoff hitter. MacPhail has already dealt away shortstop Miguel Tejada to Houston and left-handed ace Erik Bedard to Seattle as part of his overhaul of an Orioles franchise that hasn’t had a winning season in a decade.
Thus far, MacPhail has not been presented with a suitable package of players in exchange for Roberts.
The Cubs and Orioles have been talking about Roberts since before spring training, and scouts from each team have been watching the other’s players in major and minor league games for weeks.
The 29-year-old Roberts has met several times with MacPhail this spring, most recently last weekend, to be updated on the progress of trade discussions.
“I think with each passing hour, at this point, it’s less and less likely,” MacPhail said. “The further we get this close into (the regular season), the greater likelihood that we’re going to start with what we have.”
Escobar, an 18-game winner for the Angels last season, told reporters he has a tear in his pitching shoulder and might need surgery. The team hadn’t confirmed that diagnosis by the end of Wednesday’s 7-5 loss to the Chicago Cubs.
The 31-year-old right-hander said he would continue to try and strengthen his arm, but admitted surgery could be a possibility. Escobar, 18-7 with a 3.40 ERA last season, hasn’t pitched this spring.
Angels manager Mike Scioscia said he’s holding out hope that Escobar will pitch this season. But it seems certain he won’t do so for quite some time.
“There’s no certainty where Kelvim’s going to be a month from now,” Scioscia said in Tempe, Ariz. “But we’re still optimistic that we’re going to see him at some point. We still feel our pitching is a strength. If we start losing a couple of more guys, some of our answers might have to come from outside the organization, but we’re not to that point yet.”
The Angels also will be without John Lackey to start the season. The 29-year-old right-hander has a strained right triceps. He won 19 games and led the AL with a 3.01 ERA last year.
At Surprise, Ariz., Gerald Laird beat out Jarrod Saltalamacchia for the job as Texas’ starting catcher. Saltalamacchia was optioned to minor league camp.
At Peoria, Ariz., reliever Chris Reitsma left Mariners camp after learning he would not make Seattle’s roster for the start of the season.
At a morning meeting, Reitsma was told the Mariners wanted him to continue his throwing program into early April with a possibility of being added to the roster later.
“He is going to go home and think about it,” manager John McLaren said. “He’s not sure what he wants to do right now. We’re hopeful that he does think about continuing his throwing program.”
In other news, All-Star right fielder Alex Rios and Toronto are closing in on a six-year contract extension through 2014 that would guarantee him about $65 million. The deal might include a 2015 option that could make it worth about $80 million.
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