More divisional news

The rest of the NL Central keeps busy while the Pirates stand still. Yesterday the Brewers and D'Backs completed a six player swap. The big names are Doug Davis going to Arizona and Johnny Estrada going to Milwaukee. The Brewers also get starter Claudio Vargas and reliever Greg Aquino while the D'Backs get prospects Dana Eveland and Dave Krynzel. Both Eveland and Krynzel have seen limited time in Milwaukee, but I don't really know a ton about them. Davis is pretty much the definition of an average pitcher (career 62-63 record, 1.47 WHIP, 4.35 ERA), though he did strike out a ton of batters in 2005. Estrada should upgrade the Brewers at catcher in a big way.

The Astros continued their spending spree by inking Woody Williams to a 2 year deal worth $12.5 million. Williams had a good year with the Padres last year, but Minute Maid is not going to help anything and he's going to be 40 next year. If the Astros are hoping to replace the potentially departed Clemens and Pettite with this move, they're failing.

And finally, Alfonso Soriano is asking the Cubs for permission to play in the Dominican Winter League. After reading David Maraniss' Clemente this summer, I understand what a pride point it is for players to play some baseball in their home countries in the winter, but this just has too much potential tragedy for the Cubs to let happen.