The Houston Astros named veteran skipper Dusty Baker as their next manager on Tuesday, as first reported by USA Today’s Bob Nightengale.
Baker will have to undertake the difficult task of navigating the Astros through one of the largest crises in MLB history after they illegally stole signs during their World Series-winning 2017 season.
MLB commissioner’s Rob Manfred’s report resulted in suspensions for former GM Jeff Luhnow and manager AJ Hinch, both of whom were fired almost immediately after the announcement.
The 70-year-old Baker is one of the more well-traveled managers around baseball.
He’s spent 22 years managing four teams, most recently the Washington Nationals from 2016-2017.
Baker has made the postseason nine times during his career, winning one National League pennant with the San Francisco Giants in 2002. He has never won a World Series.
While Baker is gifted with one of the more talented rosters in baseball, ranging from Jose Altuve to Carlos Correa, to Alex Bregman, to Justin Verlander, he’ll have to keep things even keel in the clubhouse as the Astros are primed to meet plenty of vitriol from opposing fans around the league.
