The Los Angeles Dodgers have a bevy of decisions to make this offseason as multiple key players, including Clayton Kershaw and Corey Seager, will reach free agency.
They also have to decide if Dave Roberts is going to be their manager for the foreseeable future as he only has one year remaining on a four-year contract extension signed after the 2018 season.
The two sides could decide to play out the 2022 and address Roberts’ contract next year, but generally, both teams and their manager like to have some certainty for the future and avoid a lame-duck status.
It does seem the Dodgers want to keep Roberts around long term as they see him as an important part of their future and a huge part of what they have already done, president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said on AM 570 L.A. Sports:
“It’s obvious he’s been a huge part of what we’ve accomplished looking back. And from our standpoint, the only way I can answer it right now is that we expect him to be a big part of what we accomplish going forward. Timing and all of that, not sure yet. There’s a lot of things kind of staring us in the face right now in terms of staffing, player personnel decisions and things we’ll focus on in the near-term. But it doesn’t change my belief that he will be a big part of this going forward.”
If Roberts was to manage next season without a contract extension, he would likely be the most popular name on the market for teams that may be looking for a skipper and it is unlikely the Dodgers will want to let him get to that point if they envision a future together.
In his six seasons managing the Dodgers, Roberts has led the Dodgers to a record of 542-329 while making the playoffs every season, including one World Series championship in 2020.
Roberts’ career 62% win percentage ranks as the best of all-time among managers who have been at the helm for at least 450 games. That’s 0.7% more than Hall of Famer Joe McCarthy, who is the next closest. Roberts is also one of only five managers to win more than 60% of their games.
Roberts hopes Dodgers initiate contact extension talks
Roberts is also hopeful the Dodgers approach him this offseason with an extension as he wants to avoid being a lame-duck manager.
Roberts also said if they are not able to reach an agreement, he plans to do his job and play out the final year of the contract before deciding what to do next.
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