Rest easy Orioles fans. The holiday season is likely to pass without a major trade. Fan message boards were overflowing today with talks that the Orioles could deal either second baseman Brian Roberts or ace left-hander Erik Bedard by the end of the day. According to Orioles president Andy MacPhail, neither is likely before the end of the year.

“I would be very surprised if anything materializes between now and the New Year,” MacPhail said Thursday before sitting down to lunch.

Roberts — who earlier in the week admitted to using steroids — and Bedard are the Orioles two biggest trade chips after the team dealt former MVP shortstop Miguel Tejada to the Houston Astros.

Roberts is reportedly a target of the Chicago Cubs, who are said to be offering at least two young players in return.

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Bedard, meanwhile, is drawing interest from numerous clubs, namely the Cincinnati Reds — who possess star prospect Jay Bruce, a left-handed hitting outfielder. Seattle, which was reported to be interested in Bedard, has agreed to a four-year, $44 million contract with veteran Carlos Silva.

After going 69-93 in a 10th-straight losing season, the Orioles have already acquired five young players this off-season in the Tejada trade — the first major move in MacPhail’s first off-season with the club.

swelsh@baltimoreexaminer.com