Cubs manager Lou Piniella has talked about moving Alfonso Soriano out of the leadoff spot in 2008, adding to the speculation that Orioles second baseman and leadoff hitter Brian Roberts would be acquired before Opening Day.

This week, however, Baltimore executive Andy MacPhail downplayed the possibility of a Roberts trade, saying the two teams haven’t found a workable deal after lengthy negotiations. Whether that’s posturing or the truth, the bottom line is Roberts would be a key addition to a club that has lacked a legitimate leadoff man for years.

Among the 11 major leaguers with 500 plate appearances leading off in 2007, Soriano ranked 10th in on-base percentage with a .345 mark as a No. 1 hitter. Only the Dodgers’ Rafael Furcal (.337) posted a lower OBP. Roberts, on the other hand, would give Chicago the No. 4 man on this list.

Highest OBP as Leadoff Hitter with 500+ PA in the No. 1 Spot, 2007

Leadoff Man. . . . . . . . . . . . . . PA. . . . . . . . . . . . . .OBP
Hanley Ramirez, Fla. . . . . . . . . 526. . . . . . . . . . . . . .405
Ichiro Suzuki, Sea. . . . . . . . . . 736. . . . . . . . . . . . . .396
Grady Sizemore, Cle. . . . . . . . .705. . . . . . . . . . . . . .389
Brian Roberts, Bal. . . . . . . . . . 710. . . . . . . . . . . . . .376
Curtis Granderson, Det. . . . . . .628. . . . . . . . . . . . . .362

Roberts generated a .376 OBP in 710 plate appearances as a leadoff man. As a team, the Cubs’ No. 1 hitters posted a .333 OBP last season.

For the 34 years that STATS has data for performance in a specific place in the lineup, no Cub with 500 or more plate appearances in a season batting leadoff can match Roberts’ 2007 OBP. The closest to that mark is Eric Young’s .370 OBP as the leadoff hitter for the 2000 Cubs.

Roberts’ career OBP as a leadoff man is .359, and since 1974, only Young and Brian McRae (.361 for the 1996 Cubs) have had at least 500 plate appearances leading off in a single season and topped that .359 mark.