The Astros’ players, however, went unpunished in exchange for their cooperation with the investigation. And despite losing a few key players to free agency — most notably the star pitcher Gerrit Cole, who joined the Yankees — the Astros are still expected to contend for another title.
But now they will be led by Baker, who has the most wins of any active manager, with 1,863 — 15th on the career list.
In a sport that has seen a dwindling number of black players in recent decades — and few in management positions — Baker will be one of two active African-American managers in M.L.B. Dave Roberts of the Los Angeles Dodgers, who is also of Japanese descent, is the other. Baker, who has championed more diversity in the sport, is one of only four African-American managers to manage a team in the World Series.
Baker guided the Giants from 1993 through 2002, leading them to the World Series in his final season before falling to the Anaheim Angels.
After the Giants did not renew Baker’s contract, Baker left for the Cubs. In his first season in Chicago, the team fell one foul ball (the Steve Bartman incident against the Florida Marlins) and one win short of returning to the World Series. After four seasons with the Cubs and one year off, he managed the Reds for six years, taking them to the playoffs three times.
Baker was fired after the Reds were swept out of the 2013 playoffs. After a disappointing 2015 season that included clubhouse turmoil under then-manager Matt Williams, the Nationals turned to Baker.
He shepherded the Nationals to two consecutive National League East titles, but they were bounced in the first round of the playoffs both years as a few of Baker’s tactical decisions backfired. Baker, who had already disagreed with ownership about a contract extension, was replaced with a rookie manager, Dave Martinez, who, in his second year, led the Nationals to a World Series title win over the Astros.
Now Baker takes over his former’s team vanquished and scandal-ridden foe.
Tyler Kepner contributed reporting.