The Astros pickup up the 2021 contract option for Baker, along with third base coach Gary Pettis and Brent Strom, general manager James Click announced Tuesday.
"I've been a lame duck probably four or five times. I was one of the lamest ducks there is walking around," Baker told reporters Tuesday. "And so it feels pretty good not to be a lame duck. This is the best that I've been treated in quite a while."
Baker was hired by the Astros on Jan. 29 on a two-year deal with a club option for 2021. He's since led the team through a tumultuous spring training in light of the sign-stealing scandal, then through summer camp during a health crisis.
Baker said he'd been approached during spring training about possibly having his second year picked up, but the COVID-19 pandemic shut down spring training prematurely, and there's been a lot of uncertainty ever since.
“Dusty has been a perfect fit for our ballclub,” Click said in a statement. “His knowledge of the game and experience have been invaluable to us in his first few months with the club. We’re excited to see him in an Astros uniform again next year.”
Strom is in his seventh season as the Astros pitching coach, where he's helped to pitchers to Cy Young Award campaigns (Dallas Keuchel - 2015; Justin Verlander - 2019).
Pettis joined the Astros as third base coach in 2014. He also oversees baserunning and outfield instruction.
The Astros outfielders combined to post the highest fielding percentage (.991) in the Major League Baseball from 2017-19 with Pettis coaching.
Notably missing from the list of club options excercised is bench coach Joe Espada. Click declined to comment on Espada's contract status.