Dave Roberts breaks silence on contract situation with Dodgers

It looks like Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has fully embraced a West Coast lifestyle and mindset.

The 2020 World Series champ caught up with Andy McCullough of The Athletic (subscription required) to talk about the offseason (that’s been ruined due to the lockout) as well as his future with the only team he’s ever managed.

So what’s Roberts been doing? He told McCullough that he’s traveling and golfing. He even tried intermittent fasting! A week ago, he also talked about how he’s losing out on valuable time to “really connect” with the players (which he usually does around this time of year) because interactions between the teams and any player on the 40-man roster is forbidden.

As for his future with LA, well, it seems he’s counting on that California state of mind to reinforce those positive vibes. When asked about a potential contract extension coming his way (Roberts is a free agent after 2022), he replied, “It’ll get done. It’ll get done.”

Dave Roberts broke the silence on his future with the Dodgers.

OK. Fair enough. But why isn’t it done yet? The only negotiations teams have been able to have are with employees of the non-player variety, and it’s now evident an extension for Roberts might not be an alarming priority for the Dodgers, which is odd because of his historic run of success with the franchise.

We speculated that perhaps the Dodgers might feel Roberts isn’t the right voice for the next wave of players, since it’s evident this roster might be completely revamped come 2023. Corey Seager is already gone and the Dodgers could lose Clayton Kershaw and Kenley Jansen this offseason, too. Next offseason, guys like AJ Pollock, Max Muncy, Justin Turner and Blake Treinen have contract options and all could very well become free agents.

It’s also evident that the front office calls the shots when it comes to the lineup, in-game decisions, scripting games, etc. Maybe they feel Roberts is easily replaceable? Or maybe they now prefer a manager with more baseball instincts? Just spitballing here.

It doesn’t help that a fellow Dodgers insider said that “it’s a matter of if, not when” Roberts gets an extension.

Nonetheless, Roberts has done his job, and he’s done it well for six years (with a seventh incoming). It’s hard to believe the franchise will let him enter 2022 as a lame duck, but we’re now in February, fast approaching the date when spring training was supposed to begin. When the lockout ends, there will be a scramble to sign players, make trades and round out the roster, all of which are tasks the front office needs to accomplish, and fast.

So, again, it’s a bit perplexing why they wouldn’t have gotten Roberts’ situation handled before their plate was unexpectedly filled with other, more pressing issues. Nobody’s exactly doubting Roberts when he says “it’ll get done,” but it’s worth questioning why we’re still waiting for it.

It’s starting to feel very real that Dave Roberts won’t return to Dodgers after 2022

According to Los Angeles Dodgers insider Fabian Ardaya, fans shouldn't be surprised if Dave Roberts isn't the team's manager after 2022.