The Los Angeles Dodgers are currently engaged in advanced discussions with manager Dave Roberts regarding a contract extension that is anticipated to break records for average annual value among Major League Baseball managers, a source disclosed to The Athletic on Thursday. This ongoing negotiation has been a focal point for the organization throughout spring training, highlighting the team's commitment to retaining their successful leader.
Manager Roberts, who has led the Dodgers to two World Series championships, is widely expected to finalize a new deal before the team departs for Tokyo on Wednesday, where they will face the Chicago Cubs in their season opener. The discussions gained traction after the New York Post reported that Roberts, who is in the final year of a three-year extension signed in March 2022, is making significant progress toward a new agreement.
Roberts' impending contract is likely to surpass the $8 million per year deal that Craig Counsell received from the Chicago Cubs after the 2023 season. Counsell's contract, which totaled $40 million over five years, set a precedent in the league, especially as he allowed his previous contract with the Milwaukee Brewers to expire. Following Counsell's signing, Roberts expressed optimism about the implications this deal would have for the managerial market across Major League Baseball.
Since taking the helm in 2016, Roberts has established himself as the winningest manager in baseball history, boasting a stunning .627 winning percentage. This impressive statistic places him ahead of any other manager in both the American and National Leagues. Among active managers, only Bruce Bochy of the Texas Rangers has more postseason victories, with Roberts holding a commendable 57 postseason wins.
Roberts' legacy was further solidified in October when he joined the ranks of Bochy and Terry Francona of the Cincinnati Reds as one of the few active managers with multiple World Series titles. His leadership was crucial in guiding a Dodgers team filled with talent yet hampered by injuries. When faced with elimination during the NL Division Series against the San Diego Padres, Roberts engineered a strategic bullpen game that ignited a remarkable run of 24 consecutive scoreless innings, propelling the team to victory.
Roberts has garnered admiration from players and executives alike for his adept management, particularly as the Dodgers triumphed with only three healthy starting pitchers to secure their second championship in five seasons. Notably, two of the managers he outperformed on the way to that title—Mike Shildt of San Diego and Aaron Boone of the New York Yankees—have since signed contract extensions, underscoring the competitive nature of today’s managerial landscape in baseball.
As discussions progress, the baseball community is eager to see how Roberts' new contract will redefine managerial compensation and what it means for the future of the Los Angeles Dodgers.
