Former SF Giants manager Dusty Baker discussing a potential return to the organization

Longtime manager and former SF Giants skipper Dusty Baker officially retired from managing earlier this offseason. However, he recently hinted at a potential return to the Giants organization.

Former SF Giants manager Dusty Baker discussing a potential return to the organization

Baker joined the Steiny and Guru show (F.P Santangelo and Jason Dumas were filling in) on 95.7 The Game on Friday to discuss his life in baseball, retirement, and next move. To the surprise of no one, he indicated that his next move would be a return to baseball in a different role.

The 74 year old said he had recently spoken with Giants chief executive officer Larry Baer about a role as a special advisor. He referenced working with the Sacramento River Cats given the close proximity to his home, but as things currently stand, nothing is set in stone.

For Baker, this would be a return to a familiar role as he served as a special advisor to Baer starting in 2018 and continued in that role until he was hired as the Hoston Astros' skipper prior to the 2020 season.

Of course, Baker's career in baseball began in 1967 and he has pretty much been involved continuously in baseball as a player, coach, manager, or special advisor since then. He was teammates with a pair of Hall of Famers in Hank Aaron and Orlando Cepeda with the Atlanta Braves in the early 1970's. He even played against Giants legend Willie Mays.

Baker hung up his cleats after a successful 19-year career following the 1986 season. He very briefly worked as a stockbroker, but returned to baseball as a first base coach and hitting with San Francisco coach before embarking on a 26-year managing career starting in 1993.

The veteran managed oversaw the Giants (1993 - 2002), Chicago Cubs (2003 - 2006), Cincinnati Reds (2008 - 2013), Washington Nationals (2016 - 2017), and the Astros (2000 - 2023). He had success at every stop, including three World Series appearances. Of course, he led the Astros to a World Series ring in 2022 before stepping down after the 2023 campaign.

Baker won 2,183 games as a manager, which is the seventh-most in baseball history. When his name appears on the Hall of Fame ballot with the Contemporary Baseball Era Non-Players Committee, he will undoubtedly be inducted.

The longtime manager has been in baseball for nearly 60 years and has no problem connecting with the younger players of today. He exudes a charm while seemingly being one of the coolest people in baseball. Regardless of the role he eventually fills, the Giants will benefit from it.