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Dusty Baker talks
to reporters after inking a two year contract with the Cincinnati Reds.
Cincinnati Reds…
Baker signs two
year contract with Reds
CINCINNATI -- The feeling of unfinished business and the desire for
stability left no doubt between the Reds and manager Dusty Baker. They
wanted to keep moving forward together.
That's why it was with relative speed that the two sides agreed on
Monday to a two-year contract extension that keeps Baker in Cincinnati
through the 2014 season. Terms were not revealed, but Baker said it was
essentially the same deal he had before.
"There's work left to be done," said Baker, who was believed to making
$3.5 million yearly in his previous contracts. "I didn't want to leave
on a note that we still had work to do. It left a real pain in my heart
to feel as I did at the end of the season this year."
Under Baker this season, Cincinnati finished with the second-best
record in baseball at 97-65 and won the National League Central
division.
But the postseason came to a heartbreaking conclusion. Against the
Giants in the NL Division Series, the Reds took the first two games in
San Francisco before dropping the final three at Great American Ball
Park last week to be eliminated from the playoffs.
Reds general manager Walt Jocketty and Baker were already talking about
an extension before the playoff exit. Jocketty said the team's final
outcome never played a part in talks.
"That's why it didn't take long," Jocketty said. "We actually had one
quick meeting on Friday and we discussed some things over the weekend
and wrapped up this morning."
"This is Dusty's team," Reds CEO Bob Castellini said. "These fellas
here are poised to go deeper and deeper in the season. To not bring
Dusty back was out of the question."
Baker cited his family's support in favor of his remaining in
Cincinnati. His 13-year-old son, Darren, let him know he hoped to one
day play beside right fielder Jay Bruce on the Reds.
"My family is extremely happy, especially my son, because he is the
biggest Reds fan that we have," Baker said.
This season, the 63-year-old Baker joined Bill McKechnie and Sparky
Anderson as the only Reds managers to lead the franchise to multiple
postseason berths. Since coming to the Reds on a three-year contract in
2008, Baker has a record of 419-391 (.517) and two division titles in
the last three seasons. He was re-signed for two years in 2010 after
winning the NL Central, but before the Reds were swept by the Phillies
in the NLDS.
Baker's 1,581 wins over 19 seasons with the Giants, Cubs and Reds have
him ranked 19th all-time and second among active skippers.
The 2012 season was one in which the Reds overcame the loss of three
relievers to injury during Spring Training, including new closer Ryan
Madson. When their best player, Joey Votto, went down with a knee
injury in July, the team responded by playing its most inspired
baseball, amassing a 32-16 record while expanding a one-game division
lead over the Cardinals to eight.
At one point in the middle of summer, the Reds won 22 of 25 games to
take control of first place.
The rotation had four starters pitch 200 innings and no one in the
starting five missed a start during the regular season because of
injury. But in the NLDS, the Reds were crippled by the loss of ace
Johnny Cueto eight pitches into Game 1. While they won that game, it
proved a key factor in losing the series.
Before everyone dispersed for the winter, Baker hugged several players
and told them he was optimistic he would return. One of them, right
fielder Jay Bruce, was pleased about the extension.
"That's great news," Bruce said in a text message. "I believe Dusty has
been an integral part of the organization's turnaround. I'm very happy
that he'll be back as manager. He's been the only manager I've known
since I've been in the Major Leagues, and he's been great to play for.
Looking forward to two more years of that."
Baker said he and the club are going into next season with bigger
expectations.
"We were all very saddened, from the players to myself, we wanted to go
further," Baker said. "We're poised to go further in the future. We're
very excited about the prospects of what we have here to carry on what
we've started."
Baker missed 11 games in September after being diagnosed with an
irregular heartbeat. During his time in the hospital, he suffered a
minor stroke, but was back for the final three games of the regular
season.
"I can't wait for Spring Training. I feel excellent," Baker said. "I
feel that I have most of my strength back. I am working on it right now
to come back next year in better shape and keep this weight off. I also
want to have my mind clear and better than ever before."
According to Baker, the Reds came into negotiations with a two-year
offer.
"I was kind of planning on a one-year contract," Baker said. "I just
thought about it and that would create as much [distraction] this year
as it has the past year when you're on the last year again."
The Reds will also retain Baker's entire coaching staff: pitching coach
Bryan Price, hitting coach Brook Jacoby, bench coach Chris Speier,
first-base coach Billy Hatcher, third-base coach Mark Berry, bullpen
coach Juan Lopez and assistant pitching coach Mack Jenkins.
A deal has not been reached, but Jocketty expected the staff to get
two-year contracts. The medical staff will also be returning.
Read this and other articles at Cincinnati Reds
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