I was joined by Baltimore Orioles’ radio and television broadcaster Jim Hunter on my baseball talk-show, Minors and Majors, today. Hunter discussed the Erik Bedard trade and gave his thoughts on the rebuilding process that Baltimore has initiated this offseason.

I found a couple things he said particularly interesting…

1) Hunter said that he now feels like Brian Roberts is going to be an Oriole come opening day. “I’d say the chances are better than 50%,” Hunter said when I asked him what’s the chance that Roberts remains a Bird. “It’s getting late in the day, and it’s now going to be much tougher to pull something off” he added. For what it’s worth I completely agree with Hunter, and would actually go as far as to say that I’d be shocked if the Chicago Cubs, or any other team, is able to make a deal for Roberts.

2) Hunter said that from what he is hearing, the Orioles’ front-office is more than comfortable with the idea of entering the 2008 season with Luis Hernandez at short-stop. He didn’t think that the Birds would look to upgrade at the position, citing a philosophy focused on, “playing good defense and pitching better,” as a possible reason why the team doesn’t feel the need to have a star offensive player at short. “If you’re only giving up three or four runs a game,” Hunter said, “that’s a couple less runs you’ve got to score to get a win.”

3) It’s Hunter’s belief - as well as my own - that Luke Scott is going to be Baltimore’s everyday left-fielder. Scott’s status in left is at least somewhat in question now that the Bedard deal is done and 22-year-old prospect Adam Jones has been added to start in center-field this season, leaving Jay Payton jobless. Payton is a veteran who isn’t going to be around the next time Baltimore is contending for a divisional crown, a fact that may make him expendable. In the mean time though, he’ll compete with Scott for at-bats in left-field, and may play against left-handers because Scott’s a lefty-swinger.

4) As for the back-end of Baltimore’s rotation, Hunter said that he wouldn’t be surprised to see Baltimore go get a veteran starter who can eat-innings in the fourth or fifth spot in the team’s rotation. Hunter pointed out that Cabrera is the only member of the projected rotation with more than a season of major league service under his belt. He said that he thinks MacPhail will grab an older starter who can take some pressure off some of the kid’s who will be vying for spots in the back. Get this. Hunter threw Steve Trachsel’s name out there as the type of player who the O’s might target. In case you’re wondering, yes, Trachsel is available.

5) It’s still unkown where in the order Jones is going to bat. When I proposed the idea of him hitting second in front of Nick Markakis, Hunter was to quick point out that if Roberts is still around and hitting leadoff, “Then you’ll need to have your second hitter be somebody who is patient at the plate and who can go the other way.” Jones’ has the wheels to hit at the top of the lineup and the power to hit in the middle of the order. Remember, though, that Jones hit seventh in Seattle’s lineup during much of his major league stint a year ago.