HOUSTON – Dusty Baker will continue as manager of the Houston Astros for a third season after reaching a one-year deal with the reigning American League champions.
Baker replaced AJ Hinch, who was suspended by Major League Baseball following his involvement in the team’s signal theft scandal, which later fired him.
The Astros fell to Tampa Bay in the 2020 American League Championship Series. This year, they reached the World Series, where Atlanta beat them in six games.
“We have a bright future here, and a present too,” Baker said Friday. “I just had some unfinished business to attend to, but we were close. We improve every year.”
The 72-year-old Baker has never won a World Series as a manager. Accumulates 1,987 wins in the regular season as a driver.
He said he has enjoyed his tenure in Houston, even though he had to adapt to new trends in advanced analytics.
“I was talking to some of our sabermetry guys and I said, ‘Hey, I guess you can teach an old dog new tricks,’ and they said, ‘It’s up to the dog,'” Baker said with a smile. “I imagine that was a compliment.”
Owner Jim Crane predicted that the team’s payroll will be close to, and possibly exceed, the “luxury tax” level. There are negotiations between Major League Baseball and the players union to define the rules that will be in effect from December 1.
“If we have to do a transaction to compete and secure something, that’s something we’ve always done,” Crane said. “We have the resources, because we have obtained great support from the city. Our goal is to win championships and place the best possible team on the field.”
Puerto Rican shortstop Carlos Correa declared himself a free agent Wednesday.
“Hopefully we can accomplish something,” Crane said.
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Dusty Baker will remain in command of the Astros