The Astros have found their new manager.
They will name veteran Dusty Baker to the position, after firing A.J. Hinch in the wake of their cheating scandal. Houston had originally named bench coach Joe Espada as interim manager to replace Hinch. Both sides are in the process of finalizing the deal.
USA TODAY Sports’ Bob Nightengale reported the signing on Tuesday afternoon.
The #Astros have decided on Dusty Baker to be their next manager, a perfect choice.https://t.co/UlDHjACFD0
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) January 28, 2020
As stated above, Baker is a veteran manager with over 20 years of experience at the position. He has managed the Giants, the Cubs, the Reds and the Nationals. This will be his first American League job in his storied career.
Despite being a World Series champion as a player (Dodgers, 1981), he has never won one as a manager. He has managed one team to the World Series, the San Francisco Giants in 2002. They would go on to lose that series in seven games.
His postseason record is 23-32, a 41.8 percent winning rate. Baker’s regular season win percentage is 1,863-1,636, for a 53.2 percent winning percentage.
Baker will manage his first game since 2017 against the team that beat him in the 2002 World Series, the Los Angeles Angels, on March 26.
Featured Image courtesy of Brad Mills/USA TODAY Sports
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