Anthony Arroyo
When the Los Angeles Dodgers hired Dave Roberts as their manager on November 23, 2015, fans were already familiar with his name, primarily because of his legendary stolen base in the 2004 American League Championship Series that helped the Boston Red Sox break the “Curse of the Bambino.” However, few could have anticipated that Roberts would become the highest-paid manager in Major League Baseball nearly two decades later.
A Journey Rooted in Hard Work
Born in Naha, Okinawa, Japan, Roberts spent much of his childhood on military bases before his family settled in San Diego. A multi-sport athlete at Rancho Buena Vista High School, he pursued baseball at UCLA, where he joined the team as a walk-on. By the time he graduated in 1995 with a degree in history, he had set the school’s all-time stolen bases record.
Selected by the Detroit Tigers in the 28th round of the 1994 Major League Baseball Draft, Roberts never played for the organization. Instead, he went on to have a respectable ten-year Major League Baseball career, playing for five teams: the Cleveland Indians (now known as the Guardians), the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Boston Red Sox, the San Diego Padres, and the San Francisco Giants. Although he was never a star, his speed and defensive skills made him a valuable contributor. His most memorable moment came during the 2004 ALCS, when his clutch steal helped Boston rally past the New York Yankees on their way to winning the World Series.
After retiring in 2009, Roberts moved into broadcasting before joining the San Diego Padres’ front office as a special assistant. He later served as the Padres’ first base coach and their bench coach. In 2015, he briefly acted as interim manager following Bud Black’s dismissal, gaining his first experience leading a big-league club.
Dodgers’ Success Under Roberts
When the Dodgers hired Roberts in 2015, he became the franchise’s first minority manager. Under his leadership, the team quickly emerged as one of the most dominant in baseball, earning Manager of the Year honors in his first season in 2016 with 91 wins. In his first nine seasons, Roberts guided Los Angeles to multiple National League West titles, four National League pennants (2017, 2018, 2020, 2024), and a long-awaited World Series championship in 2020, ending the Dodgers’ 32-year drought.
Known for his player-friendly approach and willingness to embrace analytics, Roberts has maintained one of MLB’s highest managerial winning percentages. However, his tenure has not been without criticism. Despite consistent regular-season success, the Dodgers have often fallen short in October, leading to frustration among fans and calls for managerial change, especially after early playoff exits in 2022 and 2023.
A Record-Setting Contract
Despite the pressure, Roberts silenced his critics by leading the Dodgers to another World Series title in 2024. Following the championship, on March 10, 2025, the organization rewarded him with a historic four-year contract extension worth $8.1 million per year and totaling $32.4 million, making him the highest-paid manager in MLB history. His deal narrowly surpasses that of Cubs manager Craig Counsell, who earns $8 million annually, further solidifying Roberts’s value to the team franchise.
While the salary difference is slight, the contract sends a clear message: the Dodgers fully believe in Roberts as the leader of their championship-contending roster. Even after dealing with injuries in the starting rotation during their latest postseason run, Roberts demonstrated his ability to manage adversity and deliver when it mattered most.
Now under contract until 2029, Roberts continues to lead one of baseball’s most successful franchises. Whether he adds more championships to his resume or encounters additional scrutiny, one thing is clear: his influence on the Dodgers’ legacy is undeniable.
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