Jeff Conine Awakens in Time for Trade Deadline

Expect the Orioles to deal veteran Jeff Conine at virtually any reasonable price now that his bat has finally come to life, and he has the attention of several potential suitors. Conine's fate is sealed not only because the July 31 trade deadline is approaching, but because teammate Jay Gibbons is eligible to return from the DL July 29. Gibbons has rested his sore knee, and needs to play in Conine's outfield spot because of the emergence of youngster Nick Markakis. Markakis' sparkling play has won him the everyday right field job, leaving Conine as the odd man out.