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Monday, November 4
Updated: November 6, 2:55 PM ET
 
Baker's contract with Giants expires Wednesday

Associated Press

SAN FRANCISCO -- Manager Dusty Baker's future with the San Francisco Giants -- if he has one -- should be much more clear within days.

Baker's agent, Jeff Moorad, has spoken with Giants general manager Brian Sabean to discuss whether Baker will remain with the organization, a team official said Monday, speaking on condition of anonymity. Now the Giants are waiting to hear back from Moorad.

Baker's contract expires Wednesday, 10 days after the Giants' Game 7 loss in the World Series to the Anaheim Angels.

Sabean agreed to a new multiyear deal with the Giants last week, and one of his first priorities is hiring a manager.

Before Game 7 of the World Series, Baker made it sound as if he was on his way out. He said he had not been convinced the Giants wanted him to return.

When asked what he would need to hear from Giants owner Peter Magowan to stick around, Baker said, "If somebody wanted me back, a lot of times they wouldn't wait until the last minute to tell them."

The 53-year-old Baker, who just completed his 10th year with the Giants, said when the playoffs began that he did not intend to "break the bank" -- meaning the $6 million a year Joe Torre got from the Yankees -- "but I want to be near the bank."

Neither Baker nor Sabean could immediately be reached for comment. ESPN's Peter Gammons reports Baker met briefly with Magowan last Monday, but that Moorad has not talked money or given a target figure for Baker's services.

Baker's name has been mentioned for the vacant managerial jobs in Seattle and with the Chicago Cubs -- two attractive openings that have yet to be filled after many clubs have already made their hires.

While the Cubs haven't expressed interest in Baker publicly, their search for a new manager is on hold until he resolves his situation.

General manager Jim Hendry hasn't interviewed anyone new. He is in Arizona for the team's organizational meetings.

Mariners general manager Pat Gillick has been careful not to call Baker a candidate, saying he didn't want to comment when Baker was still under contract. But Seattle, which has been openly naming its candidates, has said it has a "mystery candidate" in the mix.

Baker has had his differences with Magowan, mainly on who deserves the most credit for the franchise's success.

Baker apparently feels slighted because Magowan always points out everybody else's contributions when reporters ask Magowan what he thinks of Baker's role in their success. Baker also became angry when Magowan predicted in spring training that this was the best team the Giants had fielded in his 10 years of ownership. Baker thought that put too much pressure on the players.

When the World Series ended, Magowan wouldn't say whether he wanted Baker back, but he did congratulate the manager for a fine season.

"He'll hear what he'll hear," Magowan said when asked about Baker's desire to hear that he's wanted.

"Dusty did a great job this year. He outmanaged two good managers in Tony La Russa and Bobby Cox. But the final analysis of what happens will depend on what Dusty wants to happen."

Baker, who would be deeply missed by the fans and many of his players, said he would give the decision plenty of thought.

"I'm not worried about jobs being taken or filled up because maybe those weren't the jobs for me in the first place," he said during the World Series. "Who knows, maybe I'm supposed to stay where I am. Maybe I'm supposed to go to what's left."




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