Should the Orioles trade Brian Roberts this offseason?

Jon wrote:

<quoted text>
Amen to that, Baltimore has been a football town since the Ravens won the superbowl, I could care less about the O's. Why don't fans just not go at all, why waste your money in these tough economic times anyway. Maybe Angelos will wise up if the stadium is empty.

I was there for the twinbill last night. This is exactly what's happening: empty. But no one seems to be wising up. Meanwhile...the Ravens are packing 'em in and all is wonderful across the parking lot.

Does it really even matter any more? The only thing the Orioles can count on in 2009 is their 12th consecutive losing season.

Angelos will have to die before this team can even think about winning again. Until then it's the same crap; "hey look the Orioles are still in it and it's May! Hey look it's June and the Orioles are still hanging around! It's early July and the Orioles are trying to get back to 500. It's August and the Orioles are trying to right the ship. It's September and the Orioles are just trying to play for next year.

Same shit, different year.

I agree with Mr. Ordine. While I agree with Mr. Eck's assessment of Roberts' outstanding ability and exemplary community service, much of his argument for keeping the second basement is PR-driven. If the O's want good PR, above all they need to win. The most community service a baseball team can provide to the community is winning. And by "winning," I mean contending, or at least not disappearing and shutting down by late August every year. Yes, baseball is a business. If the O's trade Roberts and they win as a result, a few may miss him but real baseball fans will celebrate the rebirth of a once proud franchise.

Maybe it is just me, but I have a vision and can see this team contending in 2010. If Weiters continues to blossom in the minors, add in Roberts and Huff along with the great outfield, I see us only being a hitter or two away.

Our pitching continues to make some strides, and with a rotation including Guthrie, and then Olson/Liz/Waters/Simon and a solid bullpen that I think we have now, we might only be 3-4 players away with 2 years to do it.

The guy is a great player, period. Trade him at your own risk, front office. If the trade fails, expect the fans to storm the hapless warehouse, and I'll come back from the West Coast to lead them.

The Orioles only have a handful of good players. Roberts, Mora, Huff, Sherrill, Guthrie, Markakis. Jones and 1 or 2 other young players may work out. Why trade one of the very few good things about this club? Trade that runt cheap scumbag lawyer of an owner we have.

Trade Roberts? Insanity! About as smart as trading Markakis. What goes through the minds of these "baseball men" when they talk of trading a player like Roberts? Now that the Orioles are a disaster the only reason I watch their games and read the sports page every day is to see how Roberts and Markakis are doing statisically. I remember watching the old Philadelphia Athletics just to see how Eddie Joost was doing. When you are an eleven-year loser you need something to keep the fans watching - that's Brian Roberts. Trade him and lose me.

if your a O'S fan why would you be degrading them so badly.thats not a true fan in my eyes so what we finished last atleast we have somthing to look forward to.this guy sayin he will never root for the O'S again is a bum.Roberts has been more than faithful to this team!i dont think hes gona want to stick around for this so called rebuilding but if he does thats just a plus.i look forward to the future and yes we do have a chance of making the playoffs in this heavyweight division we can do it lets go O'S

The Orioles are so far away, Brian Roberts will be out of his prime before the O's are competitive. The O's are a 65 win team in 2009 with Brian Roberts or wothout him. Get some quality pitching prospects for 2011 or 2012 when the O's may have a chance. Put in a triple A second baseman to fill the role next year because they will be horrible either way.

I know it's harsh, but BR is about the only proven commidity the O's have -- maybe Markakis but to a much lesser extent.
With BR you've got a solid defensive player, a leadoff hitter who hits for average and some power and can steal bases. That's a heck of a package.
If someone if willing to give up some QUALITY players, plural, for him then you have to consider trading him.
The question is who has a proven power hitter they're willing to give up? Much less a No. 1 starter? Are you kidding? I don't see a surplus of good starting pitchers on any team.
Unless some team is willing to put together a deal for a star or a package of Quality players, then Roberts stays.
He's too much of an asset, on and off the field, to let go unless you get real value in return.

O in VA wrote:

I know it's harsh, but BR is about the only proven commidity the O's have -- maybe Markakis but to a much lesser extent.
With BR you've got a solid defensive player, a leadoff hitter who hits for average and some power and can steal bases. That's a heck of a package.
If someone if willing to give up some QUALITY players, plural, for him then you have to consider trading him.
The question is who has a proven power hitter they're willing to give up? Much less a No. 1 starter? Are you kidding? I don't see a surplus of good starting pitchers on any team.
Unless some team is willing to put together a deal for a star or a package of Quality players, then Roberts stays.
He's too much of an asset, on and off the field, to let go unless you get real value in return.

Listen...the idea is not to trade BRob for another major leaguer...the idea is to trade him for prospects in the minors. There is no point in trading BRob for another vet...it's stupid. Clubs that are in the "we are one piece away" mindset will sometimes sell the farm for a guy like Roberts and that's where we cash in. See the Mariner' deal for Bedard last year. They were under the assumption that they were one pitcher away from being dominant and traded their top prospects to get him. That obviously didn't work out for them, but you get the point.

What difference would it make for this crew?

Make him play short already

You need to have a solid foundation to build a sturdy house. PITCHING & shortstop are enough to try to fill. Did I Mention PITCHING. You D33n sight better have someone on hand to fill in before you trade a core member of this team in 2 categories, 2b and lead-off hitter. remember a shortstop named "Miggy"?