Cincinnati, OH (Sports Network) - The Cincinnati Reds have rewarded manager
Dusty Baker with a two-year contract extension through the 2014 season.
Baker has managed the Reds for the past five seasons, posting a 419-391 record
while leading the club to a pair of NL Central titles and a 97-win campaign in
2012, the best for the franchise since 1976.
"In Dusty's five seasons here he's taken us to the postseason twice and has
proven he can lead our teams to championship-caliber play on the field," said
Reds president and chief executive officer Bob Castellini. "He's the right
manager to continue the building process that will take us deeper and deeper
into the playoffs in the future."
The Reds signed Baker to a two-year extension in October 2010 just after the
team won the NL Central and before suffering a sweep at the hands of
Philadelphia in the NLDS. This year's squad was beaten in the NLDS by the
Giants in stunning fashion, dropping all three games at home after winning the
first two in San Francisco.
Baker, 63, will enter his 20th managerial season in 2013.
Before joining the Reds in October 2007, Baker previously managed the Cubs and
Giants. He led San Francisco to division titles in 1997 and 2000, and guided
the Giants to the 2002 World Series as a wild card in 10 years. He joined the
Cubs in 2003 and immediately helped Chicago capture a division title for the
first time since 1989, but came up a win short of the World Series with a loss
to the Marlins in the NLCS.
Baker has been the NL Manager of the Year three times over his 19-year career,
winning the award with San Francisco in 1993, 1997 and 2000. A two-time All-
Star as a player during 19 seasons with the Braves, Dodgers, Giants and
Athletics, he has a career managerial record of 1,581-1,432.
The Sports Network