The Reason Why Brian Roberts Must Be Kept Here in Baltimore...

Read this quick blurb from the Examiner. The point is clear:

"BALTIMORE - Wild hair, unshaven face and a ragged T-shirt collar peeking out underneath his jersey. With all the trade talk in the past week, Brian Roberts’ appearance Thursday didn’t come as a surprise.

But Roberts, the Baltimore Orioles’ second baseman, was sporting his relaxed, offseason look — not a stressed-out appearance one would expect after reports this week had him destined for Atlanta in a trade.

“Its just part of it,” Roberts said from the ESPNZone. “I think that everybody’s name gets thrown out there at some point. If a team wants you, that’s nothing to be ashamed of or feel like your organization is throwing you under the bus or anything like that.”

Roberts, who batted .286 with 36 stolen bases last season, was in Baltimore for the team’s annual Christmas party with 80 students from The Barclay School. His work in the community is likely one of the traits that led Orioles owner Peter Angelos to reportedly nix the trade for the popular lead-off man.

“I’ve always said I’d want to play my whole career here,” said Roberts, who has played each of his six seasons in an Orioles uniform. “I’ve always wanted to see this team win again.”

He found out about the trade rumors via a text message from Orioles vice president Jim Duquette, whom Roberts said reassured him he wouldn’t be traded.

Roberts, who is under Baltimore’s control until after the 2008 season, said the club has not yet approached him about a contract extension.

Simply put, the man wants to stay here. He's a good second baseman, and good citizens are hard to find in the crazy world of sports today. Right now, I'm not sure what the organizational plan is, but if we want to rebuild for the future, we may want to trade him since he's a pretty valuable piece right now -- however, if we are build a team to compete, we should keep Brian.

He's a fan favorite, a core of the team and a good representative of the team and citizen. Why has this guy not been signed to an extension already?