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Baker’s contract ends Wednesday

By Janie McCauley The Associated Press
Tuesday November 05, 2002

 

SAN FRANCISCO — Manager Dusty Baker’s future should be much more clear within days. 

Baker’s agent, Jeff Moorad, has spoken with San Francisco Giants general manager Brian Sabean to discuss whether Baker will remain with the organization, a team official said Monday, speaking on condition of anonymity. Now the Giants are waiting to hear back from Moorad. 

Baker’s contract expires Wednesday, 10 days after the Giants lost Game 7 of the World Series to the Anaheim Angels. 

Sabean agreed to a new multiyear deal with the Giants last week, and one of his first priorities is hiring a manager. 

Before Game 7 of the World Series, Baker made it sound as if he was on his way out. He said he had not been convinced the Giants wanted him to return. 

When asked what he would need to hear from Giants owner Peter Magowan to stick around, Baker said, “If somebody wanted me back, a lot of times they wouldn’t wait until the last minute to tell them.” 

The 53-year-old Baker, who just completed his 10th year with the Giants, said when the playoffs began that he did not intend to “break the bank” — meaning the $6 million a year Joe Torre got from the Yankees — “but I want to be near the bank.” 

Neither Baker nor Sabean could immediately be reached for comment. 

Baker’s name has been mentioned for the vacant managerial jobs in Seattle and with the Chicago Cubs — two attractive openings that have yet to be filled after many clubs have already made their hires. 

While the Cubs haven’t expressed interest in Baker publicly, their search for a new manager is on hold until he resolves his situation. 

General manager Jim Hendry hasn’t interviewed anyone new, and is in Arizona for the team’s organizational meetings. 

Mariners general manager Pat Gillick has been careful not to call Baker a candidate, saying he didn’t want to comment when Baker was still under contract. But Seattle, which has been openly naming its candidates, has said it has a “mystery candidate” in the mix.