It’s been a busy offseason in Los Angeles this winter as the reigning World Series champions have worked hard to improve their roster, bringing in high-profile free agents like Blake Snell and Tanner Scott while also securing the services of 23-year-old phenom Roki Sasaki in international free agency. Frustrations from fans around the game led MLB commissioner Rob Manfred to speak out against the assertion from some fans that the Dodgers and their aggressive spending are “ruining” baseball.
For all the work the Dodgers have gotten done this winter, however, one major piece of the puzzle remains uncompleted: an extension for longtime manager Dave Roberts. Roberts’ contract expires after the 2025 season, and the club’s front office officials have made clear that they intend to keep their veteran skipper around beyond the end of his current contract. In an appearance on the Baseball Tonight podcast with ESPN’s Buster Olney, Roberts revealed that the sides have “just started talking” about an extension, and while his primary focus is on the start of Spring Training he suggested he’s hopeful a deal will get done.
“Hopefully, everything takes care of itself,” Roberts said on the podcast. “But it’s about value. And I love this organization, but yeah, you want to feel your value. Absolutely.”
It’s hard to deny Roberts’s value to the organization. He’s been at the helm for two World Series championships since taking over as skipper prior to the 2016 season, and his Dodgers have made two additional trips to the World Series in 2017 and 2018. Meanwhile, they’ve been dominant in the regular season for his entire tenure with the club: since Roberts took over as manager in L.A. the club has posted an incredible 851-705 record. His .627 career winning percentage as a big league manager (which also includes a one-game stint as skipper of the Padres in 2015) is the best of anyone with at least 1000 MLB games managed, and he’s finished in the top 5 of NL Manager of the Year award voting seven times throughout his career including a win in 2016 as well as second place finishes in both 2017 and 2022.
That Roberts wants to “feel [his] value” when it comes to his next contract is hardly a surprise given that resume, and there’s been an upward trend in salaries for managers around the game recently. Last offseason, longtime Brewers skipper Craig Counsell headed into free agency after not signing a contract extension prior to or during the 2023 season. Once a free agent, Counsell was courted by a number of clubs before ultimately landing with the Cubs on a deal that guaranteed him a record-setting $40MM over five years.
The deal made Counsell the highest-paid manager in the game, and set the stage for well-regarded Red Sox manager Alex Cora to enter the 2024 season without an extension in hand. Cora ultimately extended with the club on a three-year deal that guaranteed him roughly $21.75MM back in July, a deal that seemingly solidified the market for the game’s top managers in the $7-8MM range annually. Roberts is more decorated than either Cora or Counsell as a manager, and while no specifics surrounding the negotiations have been reported at this point it would seem reasonable to expect Roberts to be seeking a deal that at least falls into that range.
While its theoretically possible that Roberts could follow in Cora’s or even Counsell’s footsteps and hold off on signing an extension until later in the 2024 season or even until he reaches free agency this winter, given the Dodgers’ comfort with high-dollar expenditures and comments on both sides of the negotiation suggesting that Roberts staying in the fold is the preferred outcome, it seems more likely that the sides will be able to iron out a deal, perhaps even before the club heads to Tokyo to kick off the 2025 season against the Cubs next month.
Ok
Manny tossed the ball. No intent behind it.
If I were the Dodgers, I would give Roberts three years at $8 million per year. No reason to give more than three years, Roberts is not going to turn it down to manage a lesser roster. Especially because his best attribute is keeping so many stars happy more than being a brilliant tactician.
Love Robert’s leadership. What an amazing franchise. Great time to be a Dodgers fan.
Well, to be fair, just about anybody could go deep in the postseason with that roster. Kind of the same situation with Aaron Boone. He’s not that great of manager by any means, but he rides the coattails of a relatively loaded roster.
As a Giants’ fan, I’d much prefer Roberts managing in SF than Boone.
I would agree you up until last year. Despite the roster being deep, the actual playoff squad was profoundly depleted, and Roberts managed the pitching quite skillfully. For example, he deployed his bullpen in such a way that the Yankee batters had relatively limited exposure to each pitcher despite the Dodgers’ heavy reliance on the bullpen.
I don’t think he’s the best manager in baseball by a long shot, but I think he earned his extension this past October.
Robert’s should jump at the chance to continue to manage in LA. He’s not going to get the financial, personnel, or executive support anywhere near this level anywhere else (except the Yankees).
Feeling his “value” may not be as valuable as managing a juggernaut team every year. Plus, I have a feeling he’s not quite as important as he thinks he is.
He’s a pretty humble dude, so maybe your last sentence is an unknowable point.
It is fairly evident that of the tools in his toolbox, his communication with his players is to the gold standard ithat other coaches across the pro sports world emulate.
Your assessment is accurate YC.
I’m a Dodger fan. When Doc was hired and in his first few seasons, I thought he was a perfect choice. He worked hard in the clubhouse to gain the trust of every player on the roster. He took the time to get to know players individually. His comments to the media were positive, but understandably prioritized protecting his relationships with his players.
Over time, it appears that he has grown quite fond of being in front of a microphone. He seems to work very hard cultivating great relationships with the media..
I’m not so sure his players feel he values relationships in the clubhouse as much as he did in his early years. On many occasions, he has revealed information to the press that was unnecessary and more importantly, compromised the privacy/confidence of his players. In Clayton’s book you see clear evidence of lack of trust between manager and player over indiscreet comments made to the media.
I still think he does a fine job overall managing his clubhouse. It’s not an easy job.
He has never been strong as an in game tactician. As you say, he has a loaded roster. Most of the time his decisions look fine; but, it is not uncommon for him to run out of players early in the game.
norcalblue? What were these indiscreet comments Doc made concerning Mr. Kershaw ? And any compromised comments you might allow us to view. Please.
A managers job is much easier when the front office is committed to winning. Especially at the insane levels they’ve been at this off season. Roberts should ask for his value, but also remember this might be the best managerial job in the game. Goal is to just stay
I beg to seriously differ. A front office committed to winning expects to win. I wonder if the goal you have in your job is just to stay.
Pretty sure he was commenting on Roberts job status, not his goals for the team…
They’ll work it out before camp opens. No chance they will let contract talks drag into the season.
Meh… Even Pedro Grifol would have a playoff birth with his roster
So your theory is that the Dodgers are playing just to make the postseason?
No but that s usually the extent of it.
Nobody asked you. In fact nobody asks you anything.
Well you seem to answer everyone. Nobody needs to hear you how great the Dodgers are because they won their first tea World Series since 1988.
@mets
NY Mets – 1986
shhhhhh….
I’m not acting like the Mets walk on water and have to correct everyone about how great my team is every time I post.
@mets
I have never seen you post a single positive comment about anything on these boards. Ever.
Sure I have. You must only read Dodger stories. Have you posted anything positive about anyone other then the Dodgers?
Well with your wide ranging interest in other teams stories you must know the answer to that. Once again you’re talking without knowing.
I do read almost every team story. I’m a baseball fan.
@metsin4….Your handle says it all-it hints that you’re not exactly playing with a full deck.
Why they beat the Phillies in 4? What kind of handle is yours? Is that what a full deck handle looks like?
Pardon the ad hominem comment, but metsin4 seems like he’s reached trolling level 1.
You have some levels to go before getting to beisbolista’s or ghost robot’s troll levels though.
note: older trolls from this site who haven’t been around in a few years
Nah fire this dude and give me a shot. I wouldn’t ask for much, maybe a milly per year. When you have a $2B payroll Clyde from the 1978 box office smash Every Which Way…would assure you 100 wins and a deep run in October. Let’s be real
Right turn Clyde.
Glad to know you have Clyde like managerial skills.
DR won though. Head games…
The career loss total is wrong. I think it is 501.
No. I’m pretty sure that during the games he wasn’t managing, the team lost 200 of them. /snarkiness
His managerial record is 851-506 with the Dodgers. That is how it works out to be a 0.627 record.
Roberts seems like a nice guy that the players love but as a fan you’re still hoping he doesn’t make a dumb move that backfires.
Worked his way through the playoffs admirably last year. I still cringe when I think of Boone bringing in Cortes instead of Hill. Just made no sense. Dave avoided all of those cringe opportunities.
He’s got nothing on the all-time great, Connie Mack.
Connie Mack lost more games than he won as a manager. The impressive total of wins is only because he managed for 53 years. You can do that when you’re a part owner of the team that you managed for 50 of those years.
Greatest manager of all time in any human sport in the history of sports on earth and the universe.
With a .486 W/L %? Okay.
Yes, sir. Greatest manager..
Broke up 2 championship teams to save himself money, rather than selling the team.Last few years managed while dementia crept in. Must have been terrible to be an Athletics fan for much of his 50 years of managing.
@paule
I’m sorry you’re feeling a bit salty today…
Demand 10m a year or you’ll bail for the Rockies make them pay you Roberts
How much money deferred?
The Dodgers should be on the list of terrorist organisations, they are killing America’s pastime.
Quite literally the easiest job in sports
The travel and time away from home and family can be tough.
A job with zero expectations is what is easiest—Pittsburgh, Colorado, Miami, etc.
Dave and Dodgers get along just fine. He’s probably getting a nice payday and a five-year extension. Probably wins another championship in those five years if we’re being honest.
$50M/5 yrs is what’s he’s gonna get. That’s how the Dodgers roll.
It shouldn’t need to be that high – where is he going? Who is going to pay anything close to 8m+ a year? If they do its only because.money means nothing to the dodgers.
Greg Counsel. Alex Cora. Read the article.
Craig, read the article.
a rose by any other name will get 8 mill. it’s my accent.
Roberts doesn’t get credit he deserves cause he manages allstar team. He is a good mngr n has come along way w/knowing how to use pitching staff from his early yrs. Think Prior helped w/that. Friedman also won’t get credit for putting together super team. Supposed to win. All the money they spent, they better win. Go Dodgers !
Let’s see how good he would be in Cleveland or Pittsburgh. I could win managing Roberts’ all-star team. LA doesn’t win titles, they buy them. Least level playing field in sports.
2018 & 2017 had better rosters and roberts still lost the World Series managing the dodgers
hm, seems like something happened in 2017 but I can’t quite remember what it was.
33 million 6million up front 20 on the contract with 7 mill deferent in an 8 year extension.
Sounds about right
Just confirmed that Dave Roberts will defer all his money until 2099 and will actually pay the Dodgers a reverse signing bonus of $25M