Cumberland — SARASOTA, Fla. — Baltimore Orioles second baseman Brian Roberts was feeling ill Tuesday, hampering his rehabilitation for a back injury.
Roberts, who led the American League with 56 doubles last season, has yet to play this spring. To speed his recuperation from the back injury, Orioles medical personnel gave him some medication on Sunday. On Monday night, he reported feeling ill.
Manager Dave Trembley said Roberts has a virus and the leadoff hitter would not be able to resume baseball activities until at least Thursday.
The Orioles begin the season at Tampa Bay on April 6, and Trembley said he thinks Roberts will be ready as long as he gets at least 25 at-bats this spring.
“I’m still confident we can get him that,” Trembley said. “I’d still like to see him out on the field, but can’t get out on the field now that he’s sick.”
President of baseball operations Andy MacPhail conferred with trainer Richie Bancells, and said the trainer assured him Roberts should be ready in four weeks.
“But, you have to be concerned now,” MacPhail said. “You get 10 games into spring training before you really start paying attention. The clock is starting to be an issue. It’s getting to be on my radar screen.”
Roberts has spent his entire career with Baltimore, batting .284 with 77 homers and 443 RBIs in nine seasons. He is entering the first season of a $40 million, four-year contract extension he signed in February 2009.
Baltimore also renewed the contract of All-Star center fielder Adam Jones for $465,000 on Tuesday. Jones, beginning his third season with the Orioles, said he was not upset about the move.
“There’s no bad blood between the sides,” Jones said. “Sign and play out this year.”
Jones made the All-Star team for the first time last year. He batted .277 with 19 homers and 77 RBIs despite missing the final month of the season with a sprained left ankle.
Jones said Baltimore has yet to approach him to negotiate a long-term deal.
“If they would like me to be here a long time, I would love to be here for a long time,” Jones said.
MacPhail said that he would wait until Jones has completed this season before contemplating a multiyear contract.
“With Adam, the issue is going to be durability, staying on the field — seeing what kind of year he has,” MacPhail said. “By virtue of being an All-Star and a Gold Glover, he’s certainly shown parts of it to us.”
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Orioles’ Roberts feeling ill
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