The offseason began in full earnest for the Los Angeles Dodgers as they re-signed David Freese to a one-year contract and shortly thereafter agreed to a three-year extension with Clayton Kershaw. That was followed by the club exercising their 2019 option on manager Dave Roberts.
While it guaranteed Roberts would return next season, the decision was not what some expected as Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman has expressed confidence they would come to terms on a multi-year deal.
Friedman said the Dodgers and Roberts held such discussions during Spring Training and during the early stages of the regular season before deciding to put them on hold in favor of focusing on the field. He intimated there were extension talks prior to the deadline for the Dodgers to decide on their option.
Now one week removed from that, Roberts and the team don’t appear to be on the verge of agreeing to an extension, per Jon Heyman of Fancred:
Things looked positive a week ago in Dave Roberts/Dodgers multiyear talks. But things are at a standstill at the moment with the sides still apart. By picking up the option, LA has a year to work it out. So there’s that.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) November 13, 2018
It was previously reported Roberts was receiving pushback in his attempt to secure a four-year deal similar to what manager AJ Hinch received from the Houston Astros after guiding his club to a World Series win.
Despite the prolonged process, Friedman has maintained there isn’t any animosity between the two parties or cause for concern.
Roberts won National League Manager of the Year in his first year, has guided the Dodgers to three consecutive trips to the NL Championship Series and back-to-back World Series appearances. After losing to the Boston Red Sox, Roberts said he expected the Dodgers to win the 2019 Fall Classic.
