Houston Astros manager Dusty Baker agrees to one-year contract extension

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The 2022 World Series champion Houston Astros announced Wednesday that manager Dusty Baker has agreed to a one-year contract extension with the organization.

The 73-year-old Baker told reporters at a news conference that it is “to be determined” if he will return in 2024, but added, “I’m happy to be back. I had an idea I’d be back, but I wanted to complete the task we had at hand.” Astros owner Jim Crane said: “We are certainly excited to have Dusty back. It was a great season. … He has really done a lot for the team.”

Hired by the Astros in 2020, Baker led Houston to a 230-154 record over three seasons. The Astros reached the postseason in all three and appeared in the last two World Series. In 2022, Baker led the Astros to 106 regular-season wins, the second-most in franchise history.  They went 11-2 this postseason, including their World Series triumph over the Philadelphia Phillies in six games.

Baker was a two-time All-Star and 1981 World Series champion over a 19-year playing career. He spent eight seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers, eight with the Atlanta Braves, two with the Oakland Athletics and one with the Giants. In his playing career, the former Gold Glove outfielder hit .278 with 242 home runs and 137 stolen bases over his playing career.

Baker was a manager for 24 seasons before his first World Series win, first serving as manager of the San Francisco Giants for 10 seasons. He also coached the Chicago Cubs for four seasons, the Cincinnati Reds for six seasons and the Washington Nationals for two seasons. Baker has 2,093-1,790 record over his nearly three-decade managerial career.

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