Houston Astros manager Dusty Baker hinted at what the future could hold for him following the 2021 season.
Dusty Baker hadn’t been in the majors since getting fired by the Washington Nationals in 2017. But after the Houston Astros let go manager A.J. Hinch for his role in the bombshell sign-stealing scandal during the 2017 campaign, the organization hired Baker on a one-year contract with a 2021 club option.
So what does the future hold for Baker following his tremendous first season in H-Town?
When asked about whether he’ll manage beyond 2021, Baker said he’ll see how things go next season, while also dropping a rather poetic quote to stress that he’s in full control of his future.
Dusty Baker’s coming off an unexpected run with the Astros
Baker has the wings, so he’s in control of whether he’ll stay with the Astros or opt to fly away, either to another squad or to retirement.
With the Astros coming off the controversial scandal, many thought they’d be in for a rough season, especially if they played in crowded road stadiums. They were the villains of MLB, by the way. However, with the pandemic taking place this year, fans were barred from stadiums throughout the regular season. Houston had a rough year, losing the likes of Justin Verlander and Yordan Alvarez to season-ending injuries. Yet, they still made the expanded postseason with a 29-31 record.
As the 7-seed in the American League, the Astros swept the Minnesota Twins in the Wild-Card Round and defeated the rival Oakland Athletics in four games in the ALDS, making an unexpected trip to the ALCS. Houston fell one win short of the World Series, losing to the Tampa Bay Rays in seven games.
Baker entered what many deemed an unfavorable situation by managing a team involved in a scandal. Yet, he proved everyone wrong by almost taking the Astros to the Fall Classic, which you can’t help but respect. Baker won’t know what the future holds for him, but he knows that the power is fully in his hands.