Roberts has led Dodgers to three World Series championships in his tenure. He'll look to grab No. 4 in 2026 MLB season.
While Dave Roberts might not reach the level of endearment many Los Angeles Dodgers fans have toward late manager Tommy Lasorda, this generation's Dodgers manager is making his own mark.
Roberts enters his 11th season in leading this team on the field. In his tenure, Los Angeles has won three World Series championships, including the last two straight. The Dodgers will look to post a Three-Peat in 2026.
But when Roberts' time in Dodger Blue comes to an end, he's going to leave behind quite a legacy.
For those who know, Roberts played in the majors and had a key role in helping the Boston Red Sox win their World Series championship back in 2004. Roberts even played for the Dodgers in 2002-04 before being traded to the Red Sox.
Other MLB stops in Roberts' playing career include with the then-Cleveland Indians, San Diego Padres, and San Francisco Giants.
Did you know that Roberts' first taste of managing an MLB game wasn't actually with the Dodgers? Back in 2015, Roberts managed the Padres for one single game. He was then hired in 2016 to take over Los Angeles from Don Mattingly.
There's no doubt that Roberts knows a lot about the in's and out's of being in the major leagues. He's proven it as a player and as a manager.
Yes, there probably are times where Dodgers fans get a little frustrated at Roberts' moves or lack of them. Just watching him trying to manage the bullpen situation during regular-season games might have led a Dodgers fan or two to feel a sense of angst come over them.
Well, Roberts found a way to fix that situation by having Roki Sasaki turn into his shutdown reliever late last season. Sasaki will be back in his more familiar starting rotation role in 2026. The Dodgers went out and signed free agent ace reliever Edwin Diaz, so Roberts can just call him out (or maybe have Timmy Trumpet do the honors).
In his 10 seasons as Dodgers manager, Roberts has led his team to five 100-plus win seasons. Los Angeles did win the World Series in the pandemic-shortened 2020 MLB season.
He's brought both the wisdom of being a player along with what he's picked up from other MLB managers he's played for as well. Roberts has not let that wisdom go to waste.
A manager must be able to get along well with pretty much everyone. He also needs to be a disciplinarian when it is necessary.
Roberts shows that he has a delicate balance between both ends of that spectrum.
Dodgers fans should feel thankful that Roberts is the man filling out the lineup card before games. Let's see what he's able to do with this roster at spring training.