Dusty Baker inks deal to become Astros manager
The Houston Astros have found AJ Hinch's replacement as the club's manager, reaching an agreement with veteran skipper Dusty Baker, the team announced Wednesday.
It's a one-year pact that includes a club option and buyout for 2021, according to Bob Nightengale of USA TODAY Sports.
"Throughout his successful career, Dusty has embodied the qualities that we were looking for in a manager," Astros owner Jim Crane said in a statement acquired by Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle. "He's a winner, and more importantly, a strong leader who has earned the respect of not only his players, but of virtually everyone that he has touched in baseball.
"We're extremely excited to name Dusty as the new leader of our ballclub."
An introductory press conference is reportedly scheduled for Thursday.
Baker will manage the American League All-Star team this summer after the Astros won the 2019 AL pennant, according to Mark Feinsand of MLB.com. The game is set for July 14 at Dodger Stadium; Baker played for the Los Angeles Dodgers for eight seasons.
The 70-year-old will become the 24th manager in Astros history. Joining his fifth MLB franchise, he will be the league's oldest active manager for the upcoming season unless the Boston Red Sox - the only remaining team with a managerial vacancy - hire someone older.
He owns a career 1,836-1,636 record - good for a .532 win percentage - over 22 seasons split between the San Francisco Giants, Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati Reds, and Washington Nationals. Most recently, Baker led the Nats to a 97-65 record and first-place finish in the NL East in 2017.
Major League Baseball suspended Hinch through the 2020 World Series following the publication of a nine-page report finding the Astros guilty of stealing opponents' signs during the 2017 and 2018 seasons. Crane subsequently fired both Hinch and general manager Jeff Luhnow. The GM vacancy has not been filled.