Yards sale?

Better grab those Southwest flights while you can. Camden Yards could soon be filled with actual, honest-to-goodness Orioles fans again and make it a tough ticket for the ever-growing traveling band of Red Sox fans.

Ken Rosenthal of Foxsports.com reports that Cal Ripken could be looking to purchase the Orioles from Peter Angelos, a cause for celebration for fans down by the Inner Harbor, after years of silly spending and Albert Belle.

Reports Rosenthal:

The chances of such a sale occurring anytime soon are remote, but Ripken is engaged in ongoing discussions with Angelos about buying the club.

While past discussions between Ripken and Angelos failed to advance, Ripken, according to one source, is now “guardedly optimistic” that a deal eventually could occur.

Ripken and Angelos met shortly before Thanksgiving, and could meet again before the Christmas holiday, the source said.

Angelos and Ripken had no comment according to Rosenthal, but the owner tells the Baltimore Sun this morning that there’s nothing to the rumor.

“He was a great player for the Orioles and I have an affection for him. But what’s being reported, there is simply no substance to it. It has not happened. There have been no such discussions.

“If it was true, there would be nothing wrong with that suggestion, but it simply is not true. There is nothing wrong with talking to Cal about such a thing, but it didn’t happen.”

Ripken would indeed need significant financial backing, with the price of the team valued at around $800 million, according to Rosenthal. But with enough baseball fans in the area more than ready to be rid of Angelos’ reign that might be easier to come by than you’d think.

Not for nothing, but the Orioles’ big moves this offseason were signing Jay Payton and re-signing Kevin Millar.