Orioles weighing options...

One of Baltimore's best trade chips may be out of play at the Winter Meetings. Andy MacPhail, the Orioles' president of baseball operations, told The Baltimore Sun on Saturday that he'd prefer to keep Brian Roberts than move him elsewhere.

Roberts, who will be a free agent after the 2009 season, was tangled in trade rumors for much of last winter and could hear his name bandied about again this year. MacPhail, though, told the Sun that he'd like to attempt to sign Roberts to a contract extension.

The question remains whether Roberts will be willing to sign and forgo his first shot at free agency, but MacPhail is apparently willing to test him out and see what it might take to make a deal. If the two sides don't make progress, Baltimore can always try the trade front again.

-- Spencer Fordin