Astros extend manager Dusty Baker, per report

The American League champion Houston Astros have signed manager Dusty Baker to a one-year contract extension.

Baker returns to Houston for a third consecutive season and will likely look to build on what he has accomplished thus far: an ALCS berth in 2020 and the American League title this past season. However, in both years, Baker’s Astros have fallen shy of the World Series, which is the ultimate goal for all 30 MLB teams.

Baker, 72, has won 1,987 games through 24 years as an MLB manager, meaning he’s awfully close to that 2,000-win milestone. He’s 124-98 in Houston, which is solid but still worse than the 192-132 record he amassed with the Washington Nationals from 2017 to 2018.

Further, despite winning two pennants, Baker has yet to manage a World Series-winning team.

The Astros’ roster could take a hit this offseason with Carlos Correa, Zack Greinke, Justin Verlander, Martin Maldonado, and Kendall Gravemaan all set to dip their toes into free agency. While any of these players could re-sign, the possibility of Houston bringing back the entire crowd is almost nonexistent.

Now, Baker will have to prove that he can thrive with any roster, all while the potential for another contract extension looms next offsesaon.