According to an AP report this morning, Dusty Baker is out as the manager for the Cincinnati Reds. No word on whether Baker was fired, or reached an agreement with the Reds to end his contract early. He had one year and about $3.5 M left on his deal. Buster Olney suggests that the loss to the Pirates played a big role, and that it was the Reds owners that wanted a change.
The Reds' front office folks were seething after their playoff loss to PIT. And they acted, feeling that change was needed. Dusty Baker out.
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) October 4, 2013
This will shake up the NL Central next year, if only because the Reds no longer have a manager who makes highly questionable moves, abuses young arms, and somehow keeps getting jobs at $3.5 M per year.