NASHVILLE, Tenn.-- --One year after the Great Brian Roberts Trade Veto of 2006, the Orioles' diminutive and popular second baseman is back at the center of wheeling and dealing at baseball's winter meetings.
This time, the hot rumor is that he's going to the Chicago Cubs for a couple of young players, including a starting pitcher, possibly 21-year-old right-hander Sean Gallagher.
This time, dealing Roberts would represent so much more than last year, when he almost was shipped to the Atlanta Braves - along with pitcher Hayden Penn for second baseman Marcus Giles and first baseman Adam LaRoche - before the deal was nixed by Orioles owner Peter Angelos.
This time, dealing Roberts would signify at the very least that Angelos is on board with new club president Andy MacPhail's plan to blow up this franchise and start again. More important, it would demonstrate what MacPhail has been saying since he was hired in June: He has full authority to make moves without looking over his shoulder.
Roberts is the ultimate test case on whether there's a new day dawning in Baltimore, on whether this team and its owner are serious about playing for the future.
It's something longtime observers of this franchise don't buy.
Trading Miguel Tejada may be a step toward rebuilding, but it's not a steep one to take. With his sporadic trade demands and occasionally lackluster effort, the star shortstop has lost some status in Baltimore. He no longer sells tickets. Neither does catcher Ramon Hernandez nor third baseman Melvin Mora.
However, the hard-charging Roberts, with the boy-next-door good looks and the community outreach programs, is beloved in Baltimore. Angelos, understandably, wants those kinds of players to stick around.
A Roberts deal also would mean Angelos trusts MacPhail's trading instincts. That wasn't the situation last year, when Angelos torpedoed the Braves trade that was orchestrated by executive vice president Mike Flanagan and vice president Jim Duquette. To be fair, Angelos was absolutely right on that one.
Penn had myriad health and attitude problems and never pitched in Baltimore, but Roberts turned in an All-Star year, tying for the league lead in stolen bases. LaRoche was solid after a dreadful start, and Giles had the worst season of his career.
Whether one agrees or not, it's Angelos' right to shoot down whatever he wants - that's his prerogative as owner. But it's also embarrassing to have a deal done with another team and then have to go back and say, "Thanks, but no thanks."
