Astros: Will Dusty Baker return as manager in 2022?

Dusty Baker’s contract is up after next season, though he just led the Houston Astros to the 2021 World Series. Will Jim Crane bring him back?

The Astros defeated the Boston Red Sox in six games, overcoming a 2-1 deficit in the process. Win or lose come the Fall Classic, Baker has done more than enough to justify another run come 2022.

“Listen, Dusty deserves another shot for next year,” Crane said. “We’ll see where it goes. … Dusty has done a great job here, and I don’t think there is any reason we wouldn’t visit about it after the World Series. We don’t want to get distracted by any contracts or any extension. We’ll sit down with everybody at the end of the World Series. I love Dusty. We’ll put it like that. You take it from there.”

Crane turned to Baker just weeks after the Astros were sanctioned by MLB for the sign-stealing scandal. They had to fire their general manager, manager and were scarred in front of the rest of the league. In many ways, Houston’s reputation will never recover.

Astros: Dusty Baker wants to come back

“I had some things over my head, too, and so we had a lot in common,” Baker said. “When you can identify with the people that you’re with, no matter what age they are, it’s easier to get along and identify the struggles that they’re going through. And like I said, I feel very fortunate to have this group of guys and to be in this position.”

Baker isn’t thrilled with the way A.J. Hinch lost his job, but given he has since signed on with a talented young Detroit team, it’s all worked out in the end.

Dusty will be 72 going on 73 by the time next Spring Training begins. Baseball is his life’s work, and the way he sees it, he’s far from done.