Roberts, a fan favorite in Arizona, was hitting .250 with six home runs and 34 RBIs in 83 games this season. He hasn’t been able to provide consistent production at third base, a year after having a breakout season which saw him hit .249 with 19 home runs and 65 RBIs in 143 games.

Aside from the statistics, Roberts brought energy, hussel, aggressiveness, and fire to the lineup. He was often a sparkplug for the offense, picking up his teammates when needed. He was a great ambassador for the team, and had great interaction with the fans.

Jun. 20, 2012; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman Ryan Roberts runs home on his way to scoring a two run inside the park home run in the sixth inning against the Seattle Mariners at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-US PRESSWIRE

Arizona GM confirmed that he had received many inquiries from multiple clubs in the week prior to the move, and expects a trade to be completed shortly. Pittsburgh and Tampa Bay were confirmed to be two of the teams that were interested in Roberts’ service. Tampa Bay is looking for more depth in their infield, specifically at third base, until Evan Longoria returns from the Disabled List.

With the move, the D-backs have an opportunity to give hot-hitting prospect Ryan Wheeler a shot to get more consistent at bats playing third base.

The move will definitely not be a popular one among Arizona fans everywhere. Unfortunately, at the end of the day, we are all reminded that Major League Baseball is still a business, and regardless of how popular you are, if you aren’t performing at an elite level, your job is in jeopardy.

Regardless of where Roberts ends up, we can all agree that with the Tatman in the lineup, it was truly a fun time to watch baseball. Good luck goes out to Mr. Roberts in his new club.

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