It was on this date in 1972 that Roberto Clemente collected the 3,000th and final hit of what would become a Hall of Fame career. Clemente would perish three months later in a New Year's Eve plane crash while delivering aid to earthquake victims in Nicaragua. Forty years later, the Pirates sealed their 20th consecutive losing season by falling to the Reds 4-3. Pittsburgh was 16 games over .500 on August 6, but has lost 18 of 23 to drop to 77-82. Elsewhere in the NL Central Division:
- The Brewers were eliminated from the playoffs today with a clunker of a 7-0 shutout loss to the Astros. However, the outlook for 2013 looks bright, opines Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Haudricourt believes the Brewers should be able to concentrate during the offseason on improving their pitching, both the starting rotation and bullpen, the major area of weakness on the 2012 team.
- Brewers manager Ron Roenicke told reporters, including Haudricourt in a separate article, that he doesn't think Zack Greinke will be returning to Milwaukee. "I don't think we're going to sign a guy for five years and $120 million," said Roenicke. "We made him a great offer. We'll see how much he likes it in Anaheim."
- Dusty Baker will be back at the helm of the Reds on Monday when they travel to St. Louis for a three-game series against the Cardinals to close out the regular season. Baker has missed 11 games while recovering from a minor stroke and an irregular heartbeat. Baker is a free agent after this season and a popular theory has him headed to the Dodgers, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com. Rosenthal dismisses the rumor. However, Rosenthal reports, citing a Baker friend, that the 63-year-old definitely wants to continue managing, but recognizes that he will need to take better care of himself.
- Cubs manager Dale Sveum admitted to reporters, including the Chicago Tribune's Paul Sullivan, that Alfonso Soriano's trade value has never been higher and could be dealt this offseason. "It’s as high as it can be,” Sveum said. “Those kind of things are all (dependent ) on what you’re getting back and all those kind of things. The replacement value of that is very difficult to find."
Translation: The Cubs are going to trade Soriano this offseason.
i was unaware that needed to be coded anymore… he technically WAS traded this year until he vetoed the move to San Fran
I must say, I thought his value may have been a tad higher when he was traded for A-Rod…
You beat me to saying that
I say the time is right for another A-Rod-Soriano swap.
Vernon Wells 2010:
– .273/.331/.515
– 31 HR, 44 2B
– 4.2 oWAR
– 3.8 f-WAR
– age 32 (after 2010 season)
– signed through 2014, $86m still owed
Alfonso Soriano 2012:
– .263/.323/.505
– 32 HR, 33 2B
– 2.1 oWAR
– 4.3 oWAR
– age 37 (after 2012 season)
– signed through 2014, $36m still owed
The Vernon Wells trade was said to be a fluke. I don’t see how Soriano’s value has ‘never been higher’. I’m also doubting that Soriano can maintain these numbers for another 2 years, especially considering his advanced age.
Angels will trade for him. (Sarcasm)
What is Marcum’s status for 2013? If he’s going to be around then I’d say the Brewers have a pretty solid rotation with Gallardo, Estrada, Fiers, Marcum, Peralta, and Rogers. I think if they add some back-end bullpen options, they have just as good a shot as any team.
Marcum is a free agent. They will consider a qualifying offer but I doubt they go there. 1 year and $13 million is a lot for a guy with durability issues who does not overpower anyone. Some clubs would do it but Brewers fans remember his post-season of 2011 which is possibly the worst pitching in MLB post-season history.
And remember k-rod accepting and punching them right in the face.
Soriano’s trade value is as high as it can be? Somehow I think that for $18 million you could ask for a little bit more than 2 wins above replacement.