Astros Bringing Back Manager Dusty Baker For Another Season

Dusty Baker is going nowhere. The 72-year-old Astros manager signed a one-year extension with the club on Friday, returning for a third season in charge.

Baker took over for A.J. Hinch in 2020 in the fallout of the Astros cheating scandal. Hinch was fired, and Baker was tabbed as the man to replace him.

All Baker’s done is win, just like he’s done in every stop of his managing career. Baker has managed Houston to a 124-98 record in the past two seasons. The Astros were one game away from making the World Series in 2020 but rebounded in 2021 to make it to the Fall Classic.

The Astros of course fell to the Braves in six games, prompting Baker to return to settle “unfinished business.”

“The unfinished business is to win the World Series, not only for me, but for the organization as well,” Baker said on Friday. “We’ve been to the World Series the last couple of times and had a good year, but not a great year.

“These guys were very disappointed, but they also know we’ll be back. We’re keeping the core guys, and hopefully we’ll find a way to sign Carlos or Carlos will find a way to return.”

Baker obviously wants to keep Correa, but he’s not the only big-name Astro set to hit the free agent market. Starting pitchers Justin Verlander and Zack Greinke are as well, both expected to head elsewhere.

It could be a completely different roster for Baker to work with, one that he hopes will help him get his first World Series title as a manager.

“Now that I’m here, you might as well seize the moment and do the best you can for this organization, the best for the city, my family and other potential guys coming up behind me,” Baker said. “My main goal is to win the pennant. If you win the pennant, everything else takes care of itself.”