Dave Roberts Displays Confidence In Many Areas, Including The Finalization Of New Deal With LA Dodgers

Dave Roberts Displays Confidence In Many Areas, Including The Finalization Of New Deal With LA Dodgers

LOS ANGELES, CA Now that the 2022 MLB season is officially happening thanks to both sides representing the players and the owners coming to an agreement, that famous saying, play ballcan truly have meaning.

As teams prepare schedules and maneuver through free agency, Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has many things weighing on him for the start of the season including a new deal.

No new deal has been reached, however Roberts via a zoom call to local media stressed that he was encouraged on how the talks are continuing to progress daily.

Were moving forward. Hopefully we can get it done sooner rather than later. I think were really close,Roberts said. I dont think that its going to be an issue here in the coming days.

In the final season of his current contract, many wondered if the Dodgers would allow Roberts to enter into the season without a new deal in place.

Under his tenure, Roberts has guided the Dodgers into the playoffs all six years, winning five National League West titles and brought the franchise a World Series title in 2020. The first time Los Angeles has won a championship since 1988.

As Roberts was elated that Spring Training, he will arrive in Arizona on Sunday. the As baseball gets closer to starting, many questions loomed concerning free agent pitcher Clayton Kershaw, Max Muncy, and the status of Trevor Bauers return to the team.

Making sure guys are healthy and ready to go, and the guys that werent totally ramped up just kind of seeing where theyre at.

On Friday one of those questions was answered in the form a one-year deal for Kershaw to remain on the mound in Los Angeles. Roberts has maintained a solid relationship with Kershaw, which made this deal fit perfectly.

As it pertains to a more difficult subject, Robert addressed the future of pitcher Trevor Bauer who made 17 starts for the team in 2021.

Roberts said that he doesnt want to “close the door completelyon having Bauer join the team at some point during camp. The L.A. District Attorneys office ruled in February Bauer wouldn’t face criminal charges on allegations of sexual assault, MLB placed Bauer on administrative leave for a week. The league continues to investigate the incident and could consider a suspension. 

Roberts was also confident that current first baseman Max Muncy would be ready for the start of the regular season.

Roberts was also asked about sought after free agent first baseman Freddie Freeman.

I would love to see Freddie Freeman in a Dodger uniform. I think that who wouldnt? Hes a heck of a ballplayer. certainly, in the conversation for us but ultimately it is going to be his decision. 

If Freeman is indeed signed by the Dodgers, Muncy made it clear he would not have a problem moving to second base.

With the contracts and players being aligned on the field during Spring Training as they prepare for the regular season, Roberts has shown that he is an essential piece of this puzzle that has all of the potential to make it back to the World Series under his leadership. The Dodgers should have a deal for him in place sooner than later.