It may have taken three weeks longer then expected but veteran hurler Greg Maddux is on his way back to Los Angeles. Maddux will rejoin the Dodgers after being traded from San Diego for two players to be named later.
The Dodgers are currently even with the Arizona Diamondbacks at the top of the NL West. They are hoping that Maddux can help them reach the postseason like he did following his acquisition in 2006. During his 2006 stay with the Dodgers Maddux was 6-3 with a 3.30 ERA in 12 starts.
The Dodgers made the playoffs that season, but missed out last year.
Maddux was thought to be heading to the Dodgers prior to the trade deadline but the two teams could not agree on compensation. The Dodgers did acquire outfielder Manny Ramirez from the Boston Red Sox.
The Padres placed Maddux on waivers and since no teams placed a claim on the 42-year old right hander with 353 career wins they were able to trade him to any team.
Maddux who is earning $10 million this season figures to move into the Dodgers rotation which became a man short when Brad Penny was moved to the disabled list.
In Maddux’s last three starts he is 2-1 with a 1.89 ERA. In his last start he suffered a loss to the Philadelphia Phillies despite holding them to one run and five hits over seven innings.
To complete the deal Maddux will need to waive his no-trade clause, something the future hall of famer has said he will do only to join a contending west coast team.
It may have taken him an eternity to record career win number 351 but Greg Maddux is on a roll of late. Maddux has won his last three starts upping his career total to 353, just one behind Roger Clemens.
Maddux who turned 42 in April is pitching in his 23rd season in the majors and currently sits ninth on the all-time list. His next win would move him to eighth in a tie with Clemens.
Maddux could receive as many as nine starts over the last month plus of the season and while no one figures him to win each time out Maddux does reason to record a win or two to close out the season.
There has been plenty of speculation on the Internet that Maddux may be considering retiring after this season. Publicly there has been no statement from the pitcher or anyone with inside information.
Last nights win puts him just 10 behind Warren Spahn for the most wins since World War II. Spahn, the left hander with the most wins of all-time, had 363 all coming following service in the war.
After going 14 starts without a win earlier this year Greg Maddux must feel on top of the world at the moment.
The 42-year old future hall of famer surrendered just two runs over six innings in as the Padres held on for an 8-3 victory over the Colorado Rockies. The win was the third in as many starts for Maddux and moves him to 6-8 on the season. Maddux lowered his ERA on the year to 4.12.
In addition to six stellar innings Maddux also drove in a run with a bunt single.
Greg Maddux has picked up wins in back to back starts after allowing just one run over six innings against the San Fransisco Giants. Maddux allowed two hits, walked none and struck out one for the 352nd win of his career.
There are still rumors he may be heading to Los Angeles but nothing official has come out yet.
