Dusty Baker Not Expected To Return As Astros Manager

Houston Astros manager Dusty Baker is not expected to return in 2024 following their defeat to the Texas Rangers in the American League Championship Series.

The Houston Astros had their season ended on Monday night, losing to their division rival Texas Rangers in Game 7 of the American League Championship Series.

After winning all three road games, they came back home needing one win to get back to the World Series.

In theme with the rest of their season, they lost both both games at home and now will be watching someone else take the title of champions when the year ends.

A big storyline surrounding the Astros throughout the season was if manager Dusty Baker would be back with the team in 2024.

According to Brittany Ghiroli and Chandler Rome of The Athletic, Baker will not be back as Houston's manager.

"Dusty Baker has expressed to multiple people inside and outside of the Houston Astros organization that 2023 will be his final season as manager, sources briefed on the matter told The Athletic over the past week," they reported.

Baker declined comment when asked about if he had begun telling people this information.

He was hired by the Astros in 2020 to lead the organization out of the sign-stealing scandal that clouded the franchise.

He led them to four straight ALCS appearances, two AL pennants and the World Series championship last season.

"Multiple sources not authorized to speak publicly told The Athletic they think Baker wants to remain in the game in some capacity ... First, Baker didn’t want the attention that would come with a farewell tour, several sources believe. In addition, Baker, who told The Athletic multiple times he was “thinking about” retirement, still has a chance to change his mind. According to multiple sources, this is the first season Baker has talked about leaving managing and getting some time away from the day-to-day grind of the game," Ghiroli and Rome wrote.

These are just sources telling The Athletic about Baker's intentions to step away from his manager role with Houston, but it seems like there is real momentum that general manager Dana Brown will be looking for a new person to run the team.