Dusty Baker wants to manage in MLB again: Where could he fit?

Former Cincinnati Reds manager Dusty Baker, and most recently considered for the Diamondbacks job, would like to manage again in the MLB.

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Former Reds manager Dusty Baker is on the lookout for another managing job in the MLB. His most recent chance was when Dave Stewart called him to give him the heads up that if he ended up getting the Arizona GM job, that he would be interested in hiring Baker as the manager. Stewart did get the job, but he didn’t hire Baker as the manager, instead hiring Chip Hale, a former D-Backs coach.

Baker doesn’t have any hard feelings towards Stewart, however, saying he didn’t want Stewart to feel pressured to hire him, according to a story by CBS Sports. The reason Baker didn’t even get to interview for the job is unknown, but it could have something to do with the bad blood between Baker and D-Backs president Tony LaRussa. “Real bad blood,” according to one source. That problem stemmed from Baker exchanging harsh words with LaRussa when the latter skipped over Johnny Cueto and Brandon Phillips were passed over in the All-Star selections one year.

Or, it could easily be as simple as the D-Backs wanting to get younger for what looks like a full rebuild. Stewart even mentioned that he had also considered former Rangers manager Ron Washington for the job and that he respects both men immensely. However, once he began talking with LaRussa and team president Derrick Hall, the direction they wanted to go in started to change. The thought was that Hale would better work with younger players.

Baker would still like to manage in the MLB and has applied to Seattle, Washington and Detroit since the Reds fired him, but never heard a call back. All three situations were non-rebuilding ones and that’s what Baker is likely more interested in anyway.

So where could Baker go? He has a good record in turnaround situations, having done that job in San Francisco, Chicago and Cincinnati in the last 20 years. As with any year, there are some managers on the hot seat this year. Terry Collins for the Mets is one, even though the Mets have gotten off to a hot start, they had their winning streak snapped by the Yankees on Friday upon playing the first team outside their division. If the Mets proceed to collapse from hereon out, you can see the writing on the wall for Collins, who is also in the last year of his contract.

Bud Black for the Padres is another. The Padres rebuilt like crazy during the offseason and the expectations are high. Like Collins, Black is also in the last year of his contract and was rumored to be on the hot seat last year at various times.

Less likely, but possible are the Brewers, Dodgers and Mariners. The Brewers obviously had an epic collapse last year under Ron Roenicke’s watch, but he also just had his 2016 option picked up. Don Mattingly for the Dodgers is another one sitting on high expectations after collecting division titles and wins, but his high payroll might want the ownership looking for more. The Mariners just hired Lloyd McClendon, but reportedly expectations are way high this year, especially after they went out of their way to acquire expensive hitters.

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