Dodgers agree to 4-year extension with Dave Roberts

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Just like he's set the standard for regular-season performance, Dave Roberts is about to raise the bar for managerial compensation.

The Dodgers and Roberts agreed to a four-year extension, the club announced on Tuesday.

Roberts' new contract through 2029 will average slightly over $8 million per season, according to a report from MLB Network insider Jon Heyman, surpassing the average annual value of the then-record-breaking five-year, $40 million contract Craig Counsell signed with the Cubs before the 2024 season. The club did not confirm the value of the extension.

¡°I am excited and grateful to continue this great journey with the Los Angeles Dodgers, the best organization in sports,¡± said Roberts. ¡°Building my relationships with the players ¨C and the fans ¨C has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life, and it¡¯s a privilege I do not take lightly. I would like to thank Dodger ownership and management for giving me the opportunity to work toward more World Series titles for the Dodgers.¡±

With Roberts heading into the final year of his contract, a three-year pact that was reached during Spring Training in 2022, extending their skipper was a priority for the Dodgers. Talks between the two sides began accelerating recently, with Roberts describing the negotiations as "at the one-yard line" on Friday.

¡°We could not be more thrilled about continuing our long-running partnership with Dave,¡± said president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman. ¡°As we¡¯ve preached time and time again, continuity and stability are staples of this organization, and we are incredibly excited that this agreement allows us to maintain our focus of working together towards bringing more championships to Los Angeles."

Because the new contract was not yet official, Roberts did not speak directly about his extension after Monday's 6-2 win over the D-backs. But he did express satisfaction at getting "closure" heading into the regular season.

"I'm excited," Roberts said. "Obviously, this is the place I want to be. I'm sure I'll go into it more, but hopefully there's an announcement coming soon. This is a place I've always wanted to be. I just love what we're doing."

In nine years at the helm, Roberts has led the Dodgers to an 851-506 record in the regular season. His .627 career winning percentage is the best in AL/NL history among those who have managed at least 1,000 games.

"Dave¡¯s leadership both on the field and in the clubhouse elevates those around him and allows our players to go and perform at an elite level night in and night out," Friedman said. "He has become a strong presence in the community, and represents all the best qualities of our organization.¡±

Roberts has managed the fourth-most games in franchise history (1,357), behind Walter Alston (3,658), Tommy Lasorda (3,040) and Wilbert Robinson (2,735). Like the three names ahead of him, Roberts will probably find himself enshrined in Cooperstown once his managerial career is over.

"There's a lot that goes into being the manager of the Dodgers," left-hander Clayton Kershaw said. "It's just impressive how he handles it all, keeps the clubhouse loose, but with the right mindset."

After leading the Dodgers to their eighth championship in franchise history last year, Roberts, 52, was able to transform the narrative around his ability to manage in the postseason. Los Angeles has made the playoffs in every year he's managed, winning four National League pennants and two World Series.

But back-to-back NL Division Series exits in 2022-23 contributed to the Dodgers' reputation as a team that falls short in the postseason.

By the time last October rolled around, the Dodgers were dealing with more than their fair share of adversity as well. Injuries had ravaged the pitching staff, and several lineup regulars were playing through ailments.

In the '24 NLDS against San Diego, Los Angeles was again on the brink of elimination, but Roberts pushed all the right buttons when the team had to run a bullpen game in Game 4, forcing a win-or-go-home series finale. The rest is history.

"He¡¯s the leader of this team," first baseman Freddie Freeman said earlier in spring, "and there¡¯s a reason [Shohei Ohtani], I, Miguel [Rojas], all of us who were hanging on by a thread last year will do anything for that man. I¡¯m just so happy he got his flowers because he deserves it. That was an incredibly managed postseason by him."

Some detractors have claimed that Roberts is overrated as a manager because he has always had well-constructed rosters at his disposal. But managing the personalities that can come with a team full of stars takes a unique skill set.

Several Dodgers have said that Roberts' ability to bring people together is an overlooked quality. Teoscar Hern¨¢ndez, who has been with four MLB organizations, said Roberts is the best manager he's had when it comes to how he communicates with players and other team personnel.

"He knows what we feel," Hern¨¢ndez said. "He knows what we go through when we're in a slump, or a pitcher going through a bad moment, and he knows how to handle it. He played for a long time, and he understands the game."