In addition to facing questions in free agency this past offseason, the Los Angeles Dodgers also figured to tend to manager Dave Roberts only having one year remaining on a contract extension signed after the 2018 World Series.
Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman and Roberts both referred to contract negotiations as a matter that would eventually be settled. Each continued to dismiss any reason for concern even as weeks continued to pass without a new deal in place.
Friedman went so far as to say Roberts potentially being a lame-duck manager for the 2022 season would be a non-issue. Roberts echoed that sentiment and said he would manage the Dodgers this year regardless of his contract status.
That possibility was put to bed Friday when the Dodgers announced Roberts had been signed to a contract extension. Per multiple reports, Roberts agreed to a three-year deal that extends through the 2025 season.
Following the announcement, Roberts reiterated he was not concerned by going the offseason without a new contract as the Dodgers had other matters to tend to, via SportsNet LA:
“It wasn’t a priority for me individually. I think for us as an organization to focus on the players and obviously with what happened with Freddie (Freeman), things took precedent, which I completely understood and agreed with. But to get it done before the season, it’s exciting for me and my family. You guys know how excited I am and what it means for me to put this uniform on every day and really respecting the Dodger tradition, the people that came before me and what it means.”
Roberts did allow that without an MLB lockout, he and the Dodgers likely would have agreed to a contract extension at an earlier date:
“I think if things would’ve been different as far as the past few months, it probably would’ve happened sooner. It wasn’t anything we didn’t feel wasn’t ultimately going to get done. This is a place I knew I wanted to be, my family wanted to be, and it’s good to know it was mutual.”
In a statement when the agreement was announced, Friedman said, “Since becoming the manager in 2015, Dave Roberts has consistently demonstrated elite leadership skills and infectious energy. He has been a vital part of the Dodgers’ success over the last six-plus years and we all look forward to seeing him lead the organization from the dugout for a long time to come.”
Roberts’ record as Dodgers manager
Since being hired as Dodgers manager, Roberts has an MLB-best 542-329 record and guided the team to five National League West titles, three NL pennants and one World Series championship.
Roberts became the first manager in MLB history to lead his team to a division title in each of his first four seasons. In 2016 the Dodgers became the first team to win the NL West four consecutive years since the Divisional Era began in 1969 — a record that was extended to eight before being snapped by the San Francisco Giants in 2021.
Overall, the Dodgers’ streak trailed only the Atlanta Braves (14) and New York Yankees (nine) for most consecutive division titles since 1969.
Roberts won NL Manager of the Year in 2016 and placed second in 2017, but hasn’t been a finalist since then — finishing sixth (2018), fourth (2019) and fifth (2020).
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