Reds expected to offer Dusty Baker a “short term” contract

There was chatter during yesterday’s Giants-Reds game that, seeing as though he’s only under contract through 2012 at the moment, it could be Dusty Baker’s last game at the helm in Cincinnati. Which, theoretically, could be his last game as manager.

Seems that isn’t the case, though:

Walt Jocketty will meet this morning w Dusty Baker and plans to offer short term contract #Reds

— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) October 12, 2012

Baker’s last deal was a two-year deal, covering 2011 and 2012. The deal he had before that was a three-year contact. In August, the team’s president said he wants Baker in Cincinnati “for many years to come.”

Given the “short” talk here, it’ll be interesting to see if he merely gets a one-year extension. And, if he does, it’ll be interesting to see if he accepts it. The team has made long term commitments to Joey Votto and Brandon Phillips. Does it think that Baker is the guy to take them to the promised land?

Pirates right-hander Joe Musgrove is done for the year after suffering an abdominal wall muscle strain and stress reaction in his pelvic bone. While he isn’t expected to undergo surgery or miss additional time in 2019, he’s been prescribed six weeks of rest before resuming any baseball-related activities.

Musgrove, 25, finished out his third year in Pittsburgh with a 6-9 record in 19 starts, backed by a 4.06 ERA, 1.8 BB/9, and 7.8 SO/9. Despite logging a career-high 115 1/3 innings at the major league level, he’s also been dogged by a string of injuries, from the shoulder strain that robbed him of eight weeks at the start of the season to an index finger infection that kept him sidelined for a minimum 10-day stay on the disabled list in June.

While he works his way back up to full strength yet again, rookie right-hander Nick Kingham is expected to cover for him and will make a spot start during the Pirates’ series finale against the Brewers on Sunday. The 26-year-old righty hasn’t started a single game for the team since August 1, and currently carries a 4.69 ERA, 2.7 BB/9, and 8.1 SO/9 over 71 innings out of the rotation and bullpen.