Second baseman Brian Roberts and the Baltimore Orioles avoided arbitration by agreeing to terms Thursday on a one-year contract worth just over $3 million. Roberts asked for $3.6 million, and the Orioles countered with an offer of $2.4 million. He got $3,075,000, and his contract for 2006 will give him an additional $25,000 for 600 plate appearances. Roberts enjoyed a breakthrough season in 2005, reaching career highs in batting average (.314), home runs (18) and RBIs (73). He finished tied for second in the AL with 45 doubles, tied for seventh with 27 steals and was eighth in the league with a .347 on-base percentage. He was named to the All-Star team for the first time and started at second base.