The Los Angeles Dodgers have plenty of work to do this offseason in terms of roster construction and filling the voids of many departures within the coaching staff.
One of club’s initial goals was to work out a long-term extension with manager Dave Roberts. But after losing third base and infield coach Chris Woodward, as well as hitting coach Turner Ward, the focus has since shifted to finding replacements for the pair.
The Dodgers did pick up Roberts’ $1.1 million team option for the 2019 season, buying plenty of time for the two parties to eventually come to terms on a new contract. Whether it be in the near future or at some point next season.
In the meantime, one anonymous insider deemed Roberts, at his current salary, the most underpaid at his position, per Jon Heyman of Fancred:
The Dodgers picked up his $1.1 million option for 2019 which, as one insider put it, makes him “he most underpaid manager in the game.”
Despite a growing sense of optimism that momentum was being gained towards an extension, contract talks between the Dodgers and Roberts reportedly are at a standstill.
Roberts is said to be seeking a similar extension to that of 2017 World Series counterpart AJ Hinch, who was rewarded with a four-year, $12 million contract from the Houston Astros in August.
Boston Red Sox skipper Alex Cora’s contract was also extended within the past week, putting Roberts in position to eventually secure one himself.
