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Houston Astros manager Dusty Baker has seen just about everything there is to see in Major League Baseball.
Which is exactly why the 74-year-old is reportedly considering calling it a career after the Astros fell to the Texas Rangers in the American League Championship Series.
When asked about his future, Baker played coy following his team’s Game 7 loss.
Dusty Baker, with the media, asked when he’ll begin to evaluate what he wants to do about next season. (His contact is up): “I don't know, I haven't had time to evaluate or think about my future because I'm down the list as far as — like I'm not that kind of dude.I don't want..” pic.twitter.com/XzFOxCpA14
— Mark Berman (@MarkBerman_) October 24, 2023
“I don’t know. I haven’t had time to evaluate or think about my future,” he said. “Because I’m down the list as far as — like I’m not that kind of dude. I don’t want to steal the spotlight or anything from these guys. You’ve got to savor what we did. You’ve got think about how we can get better. And then I’ll evaluate my situation and my life. So we’ll see.”
By Brittany Ghiroli and Chandler Rome of The Athletic report that the two-time World Series winner (once as a player and once as a manager) has already told people that he plans to retire.
“Dusty Baker has expressed to multiple people inside and outside of the Houston Astros organization that 2023 will be his final season as manager,” the report states.
But Ghiroli and Rome also claim that Baker is likely to remain around the game in some form or fashion.
“Multiple sources not authorized to speak publicly told The Athletic they think Baker wants to remain in the game in some capacity,” the stte.
Baker reportedly passed on the idea of announcing his retirement prior to the end of the season for several reasons.
“First, Baker didn’t want the attention that would come with a farewell tour, several sources believe. In addition, Baker, who told The Athletic multiple times he was “thinking about” retirement, still has a chance to change his mind,” the report states. “According to multiple sources, this is the first season Baker has talked about leaving managing and getting some time away from the day-to-day grind of the game.”
If Baker does step away, it would be a big loss for the game. The two-time MLB All-Star is one of the sport’s best personalities and is universally well-liked.
But it would also mark the culmination of a career that may well land Baker in Cooperstown when it’s all said and done.