The Los Angeles Dodgers and Dave Roberts are about to lock in a contract extension, according to ESPN.
The team and their manager have been in serious talks since early February. Despite some bumps along the way, they’re expected to finalize the deal before the Dodgers head to Japan next Wednesday for their season opener.
Roberts has been nothing short of spectacular in his nine seasons with LA.
The 52-year-old skipper has compiled an incredible 851-506 record during his tenure, leading the Dodgers to the postseason every single year he’s been in charge.
His resume is pretty amazing – eight division titles, five 100-win seasons, four National League pennants, and two World Series championships.
Those World Series wins came in 2020 and 2023, with last year’s triumph cementing Roberts’ place among baseball’s elite managers.
His .627 winning percentage isn’t just good – it’s the best all-time among managers who’ve been in charge for at least 1,000 games. That’s better than legendary names like Joe McCarthy, John McGraw, and Casey Stengel.
Roberts currently sits 12th all-time with 344 games over .500, an incredible achievement for someone who’s only been managing for nine years.
In October, when the games matter most, he’s been just as successful. His 56 postseason wins rank sixth in baseball history.
His current contract runs through the 2025 season, but this extension would keep him in Dodger blue for years to come.
Looking ahead, Roberts and his star-studded team will try to do something no MLB team has accomplished in over two decades – repeat as World Series champions. The last team to do it? The 1999-2000 New York Yankees.
If the Dodgers can pull it off, Roberts would join an exclusive club of managers with at least three World Series titles – only 10 have ever done it.
With Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman and a loaded roster at his disposal, Roberts has all the pieces to make more history in 2024 and beyond.
