Future Baseball Hall of Fame member Dusty Baker abruptly retired in October last year after his team, the Houston Astros, fell short in their quest for a title.
It looks like he missed the game immediately, as reports revealed he is returning to the sport through the San Francisco Giants.
The Associated Press, citing a source who requested anonymity, reported that the two parties will have a reunion, with next week being eyed as the formal introduction.
The report did not indicate what Baker's position would be.
This will be the 72-year-old's third stint with the Giants. His first rodeo was as a player in 1984.
The Bay Area team was the first to give him a shot at managerial level by making him their head coach in 1993. He left the team by 2022, posting an 840-715 record.
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He recorded five 90-win seasons at the helm of the Giants, earning himself three Manager of the Year awards (1993, 19997, and 2000).
It will be a major comeback for Baker, but details remain scarce. For now, here are the facts about his return:
1. Rumored role with the Giants.
Reports have it that his role will be as special assistant in the front office, a role he took during the 2018-2019 season. In his first stint, he worked closely with President of Baseball Operations Farhan Zaidi and CEO Larry Baer.
2. The reunion was planned out in December.
While the news of Baker's return to the Giants surfaced just this week, he has been talking to the team since December.
"They're preliminary talks. Like I said, I talked to Larry," he said in an interview with radio station 95.7
"I'm awaiting to talk to [president of baseball operations] Farhan [Zaidi]. They do have a [Triple-A] team here in Sacramento, where I am, the River Cats team. ... We'll see if we can work things out family-wise and time-wise and all kinds of ways."
3. He retired from the Astros as an underpaid manager.
What Giants offered to have Baker return to the sport is a question. Hopefully, it is a massive package.
Baker, who has a $15 million net worth, reportedly earned $1.5 million annually as a manager.
His last contract with the Astros was signed in 2022, shortly after they won the World Series.
Baseball managers earn less than the coaches from other sports. Baker's salary is less than half what college football coaches take home, even if an MLB season is longer than any other major sport in America.
4. Fans love the hiring.
The reactions to Baker's return to the Giants are generally positive. Many supporters are now feeling optimistic about the new season. After all, they had good days with him for almost nine years.
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