Dusty Baker Believes His Astros Could Keep World Championship

Even without Justin Verlander, Dusty Baker is confident the Houston Astros can repeat as World Champions – something no team has done since the New York Yankees won three straight from 1998-2000.

Verlander, who went 18-4 with a microscopic 1.75 earned run average for Houston last year, signed a two-year contract Monday to pitch for the New York Mets.

“There isn’t much that surprises me,” Baker told writers at the Baseball Winter Meetings in San Diego. He’s got a good situation there and I wish him well.

“I learned a lot from Justin and I’ll miss him but you try and stay in contact with certain guys.”

The affable Baker declined further comment, suggesting the Verlander signing was not yet official, but did say the Astros have been besieged with trade requests for members of their relief corps.

“We’ve got one of the best bullpens in the world and a lot of people are trying to pluck people from there,” he said. “I can’t say I blame them.”

Houston’s stellar bullpen helped ice the Philadelphia Phillies in a six-game World Series that gave Baker his first ring as a manager. He also won one as an outfielder with the 1981 Los Angeles Dodgers.

Astros pitchers could be throwing to a new backstop if the team succeeds in signing All-Star catcher Willson Contreras, a free agent.

“We’re going to talk to him,” Baker admitted. “If the numbers are right, we’d love to have him.”

Houston nearly landed Contreras from the Cubs in a mid-season swap but Baker refused to sign off on it.

“He wasn’t a proper fit with two months to go in the season,” Baker said. “He would have had to learn our pitching staff and they would have had to learn to work with him.”

With the benefit of spring training, however, that on-the-job training period won’t be needed, the manager said.

“I asked Jon Lester about Contreras and got a good report,” said Baker of the former Cubs starter.

For Baker, that means helping newly-signed veteran first baseman Jose Abreu, most recently with the Chicago White Sox; keeping Yordan Alvarez happy as a part-time outfielder; and rebuilding the bench.

“Abreu won’t have any trouble fitting into our clubhouse,” Baker said. “He’s going to be a great addition. We have a bunch of younger guys who are going to look up to him.

“Yordan loves playing the outfield and I expect to use him in left field about 35 to 40 per cent of the time. He’ll also serve as our designated hitter.”

Baker indicated his major off-season project is rebuilding his bench, which he admitted is a rare area of concern.

“It’s a question-mark right now,” he said. “I just try to keep everybody sharp on my team,” he said. Replacing Verlander is another potential problem, although the Astros finished 2022 with a six-man starting rotation.

“I’d like a left-handed pitcher,” he said. “You always need left-handed pitching.” Baker said the American League West has become more competitive because of moves made by Houston rivals.

“The Angels added Hunter Renfroe and Anthony Rendon is healthy. Seattle added Kolten Wong and Teoscar Hernandez. So there’s more parity now.

“I hope we can continue to get better too.”

That may be hard for a team that led the American League with 106 wins, however.

Not one to wrest on his laurels, Baker revealed he was proud to finally achieve the elusive goal of a World Series ring.

“I knew in my heart it was going to happen sooner or later,” said Baker, who took five teams to post-season play before winning the final round. “It means a lot to my family: the home boys, the home girls. Good things happen to good people sometimes.”

Baker, who began his managerial career with the 1993 Giants, also congratulated newly-minted Hall of Famer Fred McGriff, whose election was certified Sunday by the Contemporary Player Eras Committee.

“It takes a long time to accomplish a goal,” he said, “but it gives people a lot of hope. I’m really happy for Fred.”

At the same time, the manager said he was disappointed that Barry Bonds and Jeff Kent, whom he managed to San Francisco, remained un-elected, along with Mark McGwire and Roger Clemens.

“They all did a lot for baseball,” he said, “and you can’t take that away from them.” After he leaves San Diego, Baker is headed to Hawaii for vacation.

“Eight months is a long time to be away from home,” the California resident said of the long baseball season. “I just planted my garden.”