Dusty Baker has had “preliminary talks” with Giants president Larry Baer about a position with the organization, the longtime manager told Jason Dumas and F.P. Santangelo of 95.7 The Game (X link). Baker indicated he’s likely to speak with president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi at some point.
The 74-year-old stepped down from managing the Astros after the season, concluding what’ll very likely be a Hall of Fame career in the dugout. Even as he moved on from the daily responsibility of managing, Baker indicated he hoped to remain within the sport in some capacity. Houston owner Jim Crane said in October they were willing to keep Baker with the Astros, although a position with the Giants may be a better fit.
Baker lives in Sacramento. Not only is that much closer to San Francisco than to Houston, it’s also the site of the Giants’ Triple-A team, the River Cats. Some kind of special assistant job could allow him to stay involved with the MLB and Triple-A clubs while leaving the kind of personal flexibility that he couldn’t have had as a manager.
He’s also no stranger to the organization. The first 10 of Baker’s 26 seasons as a big league skipper came with the Giants. He led San Francisco to an 840-715 record between 1993-2002, overseeing five 90-win teams and the ’02 National League pennant. All three of Baker’s Manager of the Year selections (in 1993, ’97 and 2000) came during his tenure in the Bay Area.
Oh just call it a career
you want him to be unemployed like you?
@Tyson’s Pet Tiger i mean he’s an unemployed millionaire so you’re technically calling him a millionaire as well
Technically no he said unemployed just like you meaning and only meaning unemployed. When taking things out of context goes wrong
Dusty Baker is a former Marine lance corporal, a World Series winner, and a prostate cancer survivor. If he wants to keep working at 74, let him.
And no toothpick was ever safe anywhere near him.
But he’s paid his dues ten times over. And the Giants? I’d rather work at Burger King.
I get the impression that you already do.
Why? I know many older people who don’t want to fully retire. Some think if they stop working all together, they may pass away. Everybody is different in their thinking and mentality. He legit could just be tired of traveling at his age, and wants a role that keeps him in one place but still wants to involved in the game.
Never trust a skinny Chef. Always trust a Dusty Baker
Do they still have the ball dudes?
That ‘02 year was torture, should’ve left in Ortiz if I remember correctly
Nah. Shouldnt have given the game ball.
I said exactly that as soon as he called Ortiz and flipped him the ball. After that unprofessional managerial move the Angles went off the fireworks on the 4th of July !!!!
Baseball gods are quite swift in their revenge.
Yup, pulled Russ Ortiz in the 6th inning and then it all went downhill from there. It was the 6th or maybe 5th inning, my apologies it’s been a while.
7th…
He was pulled in the 7th. They were 7 outs away at the time
Still killing me Balk! Although 10,12, and 14 helped ease the 02 pain a whole lot!
Best World Series ever! The one and only year for the Angels where they got it right. 23 years and counting the nightmare years continue. No end in sight.
Still wanna kill that rally monkey .
@Balk: But it doesn’t really matter now, does it?
Blue…not so much to me, but I guess that depends on who you ask? Ha!
What I meant is that the past is the past and nothing can be done about it.
As a Mets fan, I could say until the cows come home that Davey Johnson should’ve brought in Randy Myers to face Mike Scioscia in Game 4 of the 1988 NLCS, but he left Dwight Gooden out there and the rest is history.
Crying about a move or non-move 21 years or 35 years or even one year after the fact doesn’t change the outcome, so it’s pointless and kind of dumb.
Yeah I agree, I’m the type to look back and just grimace and shake my head at the move that caused the collapse. Even though I’m a Giants fan, I appreciate the players on every team. I just love the game.
Yeah. He should have never pulled Ortiz.
Gee was there some sort of player that played on the Giants 1993-2002 that was any good?
Rod beck?
Must have been.
Could have been Billy swift or John burkett though
JT Snow?
Some of those years: The Bondino???
Hmm maybe well look at some stats!
Rob Nen !
98-02
You forgot the part of also being juiced on roids. Never forget Bonds screwed himself not the HOF committee
Bonds juiced on ‘roides, along with 90% of the rest of the players. Bonds was tailormade for the perfect scapegoat.
Dave Burba
Dusty is a good man and we would be so lucky to have back in association with the team…
Decent manager, still think he cost the giants that 02 chip
He absolutely did. He also had the wisebrain decision to play a rookie with 11 starts in the most critical game 162 ever back in 1993 and the kid got shelled and never recovered. Cost us a playoff berth. The guy should not be getting standing ovations at Oracle Park but booed out of the place.
As a Cubs fan, respectfully, hold my beer.
Not a good look for giants fans who keep scratching their head why no big name wants to play for you. Keep living in the past and still being hateful
Why are you singling out the Giants? Under Zaidi, they’ve failed to sign Harper, Judge, Ohtani, and Yamamoto. News flash, so did a half dozen other teams.
Oh man 93 was a nightmare, the rockies were 0-11 against the braves that year. You’re telling me they couldn’t win one game? I’m pretty sure that year is the reason for the start of expanded playoffs. Imagine a team winning 103 and not making the playoffs today
The chip? Like chips and dip or chocolate chips or computer chip?
Everybody can predict the future, after it happens.
Dusty is one of the all-time good guys in the game of baseball. The knee-jerk narratives of wanna’be fanboyz always follow the same lines, and are incredibly tiresome.
He has the respect and love of just about all of his former teammates, ballplayers and peers. One of the greats of the game.
How is he one of the greats of the game? Guy was gifted incredible teams for over 30 years and finally got one at the tail end of his career with yet another stacked team. During that time he wore out his welcome in SF, Chicago, Cincinnati, and Washington.
Even wore out his welcome??? Think he was our manager for about 11 years in SF and he took every team he managed to the playoffs. What other manager could have come into Houston with all the pressure of the cheating years there and get them to ignore the pressure stay loose and determined. That was all Dusty…
There is a reason he is a future Hall of Famer–he understands the game, he understands the players-
If he is involved with minor leaguers, he knows what they need to do to get to the Majors–
To me its a no brainer to bring on someone with his expertise, particularly with his history with the SF organization–not to mention, living in Sacramento puts him close to home
Dusty rode Framber Valdez to death. Valdez was left in too long in the latter part of the year on a regular basis and was exhausted come playoff time. I fear Framber may be a candidate for arm/shoulder issues in 2024. Terrible job by Dusty. And Maldonado played over a far more productive (both offensively and defensively) Yainer Diaz for reasons that just can’t be fathomed. Good riddance.
nevermind that he won a world series, that scenario was 100% the players
It was more like 85% Dusty and 15% Verlander. Dusty has a long record of shatting on rookies for washed up vets. Look no further than his days in Cincy. Loads of wasted young talent
Your dog could have coached that team to the World Series. Astros won in spite of Baker, not because of him. We are so glad he is gone, because he cost us countless games in 2023.
Everyone should have expected it based on what happened to Robb Nen’s arm, if nothing else.
Or Mark Priors’
Thrilled to have him back in any manner. Forever Giant! Wonderful human being!
Why does anyone have an opinion on this?
Because, unfortunately, some people have to have an opinion, usually negative, on everything. It’s part of the social media age. Sad really.
Exactly what you just did ?
I find it entertaining!
Dusty’s an asset to any org. You’d be lucky to have him back.
Comedy, surely ?
I thought he retired. He must have rage quit after losing to the Rangers and then cooled down a bit.
He is 74 maybe just maybe he is ready to slow down and enjoy his last years and if he can dispense some wisdom to the Giants and prospects good for us.
The man that invented the high five can have a job in any organization he wants!
Co-invented, but I agree! Him co-inventing the high five gets way less air/attention than it should!
Well Of course, he can’t high five himself
Frankly, if he just wanted to be a mentor to the kids coming through Sacramento, the Giants would be fools to turn him down.
You go Dusty. Glad to have you stay connected with baseball in any capacity. You are a class act and a gentleman
Just don’t let him do your taxes.
Sabean will be back
Wish him all the best!
The Giants are good at keeping former Giants involved with the team. This would be a very good move for Baker to end his career. He can probably be involved as much or as little as he wants for the rest of his life.
No one cares.
Can you link FPs baseball reference page
I love Dusty, he was a great player and manager, a positive role model, and a leader of some quality teams. Whether or not this happens, I hope that man enjoys whatever life has to offer.
That said, if the Giants do this, they need to frame Dusty’s position very clearly. The Padres just replaced Bob Melvin with Mike Shildt after Shildt worked with their front office for a couple of years. I don’t want Melvin to feel like yet another team is ready to replace him at any moment, especially before the man takes the job.
I don’t think defining a role for Dusty for Melvin’s benefit is necessary. I don’t think that’s an issue at all. Dusty’s approach as a manager is not at all simpatico with Zaidi. I liked Dusty as a presence in the dugout, meaning his personal relationship with the players, but thought his managerial philosophy was outdated. (Google his thoughts on OBP sometime.) He brings decades of experience, which has value, but I doubt Zaidi wants him anywhere near a dugout during game time, and I would agree with that.
“I” “I” “I” “I” , nobody cares what you think ,go crawl back into your Hole Mr.Microcephaly.
Jean Matrac, I agree with you that Dusty is not a Farhan-type of manager. But your argument begs the question: how long is Farhan’s leash?
Good question. They did extend him for another 3 years, so there’s that, but that wouldn’t prevent ownership from letting him go if they lost patience. Eating what salary remains wouldn’t be a deterrent .I would guess though that the patience of some fans is shorter than that of ownership, and anyone hoping he’ll be fired anytime soon will be disappointed.
Eh, Dusty is just trying to help sh!th0le California by making taxable income within its boundaries. A real Calipatriot.
And where do you live?
Dusty Baker for Hall of Fame? He managed players who used roids and did nothing. Those writers would vote him in and not let in the users?
Roids was spread amongst all mlb teams during that time in history. So yes he is a great manager. He managed not only the roid users but the non roid users of today! Very balanced! A people’s manager! I vote yes to the hall of fame! But my vote doesn’t count. But he will get in
If he gets in then Bonds, Clemens and Aroid belongs.
@Melche
Not in their lifetimes
The only thing legendary about manager dusty wax the huge amount of spitballs he would chuck all over.
Hall of gamer for sure! Great manager! Nothing but respect
Instead, he should open his own toothpick brand, possibly a subscription type.
Larry seeing another opportunity to improve the balance between tradition and progression. Sounds good to me.
Just don’t give Russ Ortiz the game ball in the 6 th inning! Oh wait sorry ptsd
Wonder whether Dusty would consider a position with the Reds? I expect not after rhe way Castellini dumped him,
At 74, you would think the guy would want to spend more time with his family.
Maybe his family is a too much like many of the people who post here.
He lives 2 hours from Oracle Park and 30 minutes or less from Sutter Health Park where the River Cats play. It’s not like he can’t see his family.
Forever Giant love to have Dusty back!
I like Dusty Baker more when he’s wearing a Dodgers uniform, but something still seems right about seeing him in San Francisco. It’s good for baseball when he’s around, no matter which uniform he wears.
If Spiezio doesn’t hit that homer in Game 6 of the 2002 Series, he may have never been fired. What a choke that was. On the other hand, Bochy gave them 3 and should have been able to go out on his own terms. Texas is genius for picking him up
I don’t think Dusty was fired, they just didn’t offer him a new contract. I think it’s safe to say that they had already decided to move on well before they got to the WS.
At the time I didn’t think pulling Ortiz was a good move as many do. I would have allowed him one more batter to see what happened. he was a ground ball from a double play and getting out of the inning.
I remember thinking they needed to go into that game throwing everyone into winning it. I think Dusty was a little conservative in the end. Should have started Schmidt in game 7 instead of Hernandez too.
No doubt about the takes. Russ should have had one more batter and at worst he gives up a tying three run homer you have a reliever coming in with bases empty less pressure. And Schmidt or anyone over Livan in Game 7 would have been the move. Nen was hurt and Dusty probably knew that but threw him out there and that may have been Dusty’s worst move managing the Giants…
But no actual players though, right?
Get him a bat. Best power hitter giants will sign this year.
Instead of trying to land some talent for the team the Giants spend time/effort to bring back a guy for a PR job. Sign someone that will strengthen our rotation, give us defense/speed, or give us pop in the lineup, at this point we are destined to battle for last place. Typical Giants offseason, nothing gained.
Just like the Rogers twin brother signing last year. “Look away at this distraction…maybe you’ll forget about the failed offseason”. And here we go again.
Farhan is looking at Dusty to DH and play some 3B also. It fits with his whole “old and slow” model for the team