Absurd Dodgers Rumors

Despite Ned Colletti's inability to ever make a worthwhile trade, the New York Post claims that the Dodgers are the most likely team to acquire Manny Ramirez.  A Ramirez trade would be centered around either Matt Kemp or Andre Ethier and the Red Sox would pay almost all of Manny's remaining 2008 salary.  If the Red Sox can trade Manny, they will make a hard run at Mark Teixeira.

The Post also claims that the Dodgers may instead try to acquire Orioles second baseman Brian Roberts.  This would leave shortstop completely unresolved and push Jeff Kent to a utility role. It might be time to stop using that publication as a source.  

If a Trading Chip, Aubrey Huff Resigned to Fate

As the once surprising Orioles slip deeper into last place, first baseman Aubrey Huff is resigned to his fate as a trading chip if that's what operations chief Andy MacPhail has in mind.

"We can't worry about what they may or may not do in the front office," Huff recently told Baltimore Sun columnist Peter Schmuck. "We've got to play baseball. If I get traded, I get traded."

Huff -- currently on pace to hit 30-40 homers -- is regarded as one of the more productive players the Orioles might be willing to trade before the July 31 non-waiver deadline. Most top playoff contenders' greatest needs, however, do not include first basemen, even if Huff has somewhat dubious experience at third base and the outfield.

Other Orioles speculatively regarded as being on the block include Kevin Millar, Jay Payton and especially left-handed closer George Sherrill. Brian Roberts has most assuredly been shopped, but likely will remain in Baltimore because of a probable high pricetag and costly contract.

The team hardly can afford to part with starting pitchers, though anyone may be available if the price is right.

Cubs Must Break News to OF Alfonso Soriano

With potentially chronic quad and hamstring difficulties, Cubs outfielder Alfonso Soriano must face the reality that at 32 his days as a leadoff hitter are over. All that remains now is for the Cubs to find Soriano's replacement, and for GM Jim Hendry and manager Lou Piniella to flip a coin to see who breaks the news to him.

An ideal replacement -- allowing Soriano to move to the No. 5 spot in the batting order -- would be Orioles second base standout Brian Roberts, 30, a baserunning whiz who parlayed his .377 OBP into 50 stolen bases last year, as compared to Soriano's .337 OBP and 19 bags, most of which were stolen in the earlier part of the season before leg injuries slowed him down.

The problem seems to be that the Orioles have asked for outfielder Felix Pie in return, and Piniella is widely believed to have refused to give up Pie. Starting pitcher Rich Hill has been mentioned as an alternative, and the Orioles certainly ought to go for that. But would the Cubs really be that stupid?