MLB Rumors: Dave Roberts, Dodgers Nearing Record Contract Extension; More Than $8M AAV

Ahead of the Los Angeles Dodgers World Series defense, manager Dave Roberts is reportedly close to getting a massive raise.

Per The New York Post's Joel Sherman, Roberts and the Dodgers "have made strong progress toward an extension that is expected to top the managerial annual value record." According to Sherman, the deal is expected to be finalized before Los Angeles leaves for Tokyo on Wednesday, where it will begin its season.

The largest deal in terms of annual value is Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell's $8 million per year.

While Roberts' deal is not yet finalized, general manager Brandon Gomes noted “conversations that are very good," according to Sherman.

Gomes also said at the Winter Meetings in Dallas in December that the team would prioritize player contracts before discussing Roberts' contract later in the offseason.

"We've talked to him, like, 'Hey, let's get our team in a good place, and then we're going to sit down and talk,'" Gomes said. "So the expectation is, let's get through all of this player stuff, and then we can have conversations."

Roberts said in February that he and the team had "just started talking" about a new contract and emphasized that he wants to feel "valued."

"Hopefully everything takes care of itself, but it's about value," he told ESPN's Buster Olney. "I just love this organization, but, yeah, you want to feel you're valued, absolutely."

If the Dodgers want Roberts to feel valued, handing him a record-setting contract would likely do the job.

Roberts took over as the Dodgers manager in 2016 following a one-year stint as the San Diego Padres manager. During his tenure, Los Angeles has never missed the postseason and has reached the World Series four times. The Dodgers won the World Series in 2020 and last season.

Few managers can boast the same amount of success as Roberts has had over the past few years, so it only seems fitting for the Dodgers to make their skipper the highest-paid.