Former Cincinnati Reds manager Dusty Baker is set to make a formal retirement announcement on Thursday, marking the end of a remarkable career in baseball. The news was first reported by Bob Nightengale of USA Today, who revealed that Baker had informed Houston Astros owner Jim Crane of his retirement plans on Tuesday afternoon. The 74-year-old Baker expressed his desire to remain connected to the sport by taking on an advisory role, either with Houston or a team located closer to his home in Sacramento. Baker's tenure with the Astros was punctuated by a significant achievement - leading the team to a World Series championship in 2022. He took the helm in Houston in 2020, stepping into the role following the sign-stealing scandal that resulted in the suspension and dismissal of former manager A.J. Hinch. Prior to his stint with the Astros, Dusty Baker held managerial positions with the Nationals, Reds, Cubs, and Giants. During his six-year tenure in Cincinnati, Baker played a pivotal role in steering the Reds to three playoff appearances and securing two NL Central titles. However, the Reds have not clinched the Central division since then, making only one additional postseason appearance as the seventh seed in the expanded 2020 MLB playoffs. NFR live stream