Dusty Baker to manage Houston Astros through 2021

The front office of the Houston Astros required no more than four games to know Dusty Baker is the right manager for the job.

On Tuesday, the Astros confirmed that they exercised the 2021 option attached to Baker's contract. Baker, 71, guided Houston to a 3-1 record to begin the pandemic-shortened campaign.

In a prepared statement, general manager James Click said:

“Dusty has been a perfect fit for our ballclub. His knowledge of the game and experience have been invaluable to us in his first few months with the club. We’re excited to see him in an Astros uniform again next year.”

Baker replaced former manager A.J. Hinch, who was fired in January (along with then-GM Jeff Luhnow) for his role in the infamous Astros sign-stealing scandal in which Houston allegedly illegally stole signs using technology during the 2017 and 2018 seasons.