The Los Angeles Dodgers are in the midst of another strong season under manager Dave Roberts, who is poised to lead the team to a ninth consecutive playoff appearance since taking the helm in 2016.
Despite that sustained success, which includes one World Series title, Roberts is facing the prospect of being a lame-duck manager in 2025. That of course is a position no manager wants to be in.
Roberts previously signed a three-year contract extension with the Dodgers that runs through 2025. It represented the second extension between the two sides since Roberts was hired in November 2015.
Even with some uncertainty looming, Roberts said he is currently focused on the 2024 season and delivering another World Series title to Los Angeles, but hopes to continue managing the Dodgers for many years to come, via Dylan Hernández of the L.A. Times:
“The right answer, or the honest answer, is that I’m focused on this year and winning a championship for the city of Los Angeles and the Dodgers,” Roberts said. “Obviously, my hope is that I could be here. I don’t want to manage anywhere else, so I hope things work out.”
In addition to this success, Roberts is considered one of the most player-friendly managers in baseball, which was evident when he embraced Yohan Ramírez on the mound earlier this season.
The Dodgers love having Roberts as their manager, but they will likely wait to begin contract negotiations until the offseason so there are no distractions while games are being played.
However, another early playoff exit could make them re-evaluate things moving forward.
Dave Roberts stats as Dodgers manager
Roberts has guided the Dodgers to at least 90 wins in every full year as manager, and during the 2020 season, led them to the Majors’ best record at 43-17. The .717 winning percentage extrapolated over a 162-game season amounts to 116 wins.
The Dodgers have won the National League West seven times under Roberts, to go along with three pennants and one World Series title.
Roberts’ career .626 winning percentage is the highest of any manager in MLB history (minimum 315 games). It’s bested only by Negro League managers Bullet Rogan (.698), Vic Harris (.663) and Rube Foster (.633).
Among all-time Dodgers managers, Roberts is fourth in total wins. Ahead of him are Walter Alston (2,040), Tommy Lasorda (1,599) and Wilbert Robinson (1,375). Roberts begins the second half of the 2024 season with 809 career wins.
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