First, the following item isn't a guaranteed fact. It's a rumor, but did appear on ESPN's rumor board, and certainly has the stench of truth...
This one was to be a 7-for-2, with the O's giving up 2B Brian Roberts and SP Erik Bedard to the Cubs. The other players involved are never named, and it's just as well, as it's being reported Angelos vetoed the trade. Piniella is now telling the papers that he doubts there'll be any trade for Roberts (thanks for letting us go through the motions, though, Pete).
Wasn't this exactly what we were told wasn't going to happen anymore, with MacPhail being left to run the show? Wasn't Angelos supposed to step aside and let the rebuilding begin? Hadn't he learned his lessons, and now was gonna let a baseball man have a wack?
