The Dodgers have exercised the 2019 option on manager Dave Roberts’ contract, officially bringing him back for next season. There is still optimism that a multi-year extension will happen soon, but for now the two sides have set those talks to the side.
President of baseball operations Andrew Friedman spoke to media at the GM Meetings in Carlsbad Wednesday and said there is optimism the deal that was rumored to happen, still gets done.
According to several reports, the new contract would be a four-year deal, keeping Roberts under contract through at least the 2022 season.
The interesting part of the talks is that the deadline wasn’t moved to give more negotiation time, like it was with Clayton Kershaw and David Freese last week. But that could have more to do with how many key decisions need to be made in rather quick fashion.
General manager Farhan Zaidi was just named president of baseball operations for the rival Giants and they also have to work through a coaching staff that has lost several members. Third base coach Chris Woodward is now managing the Rangers, hitting coach Turner Ward is with the Reds and more are coming.
Since Roberts took the helm prior to the 2016 season, the Dodgers are 287-200 and have made it to the NLCS three straight years, going to the World Series in each of the last two. It was the first time a Dodgers team had gone to World Series in back-to-back years since 1977-78 when Tommy Lasorda was manager. Yes, they lost those two to the Yankees.
There will be pretty big changes for the Dodgers for next season but it looks like the manager will be in place for years to come.