Baker Wearing Red, Thinking Title

Dusty Baker, former San Francisco Giants and Chicago Cubs manager and ESPN analyst, speaks during a news conference, Monday, Oct. 15, 2007, in Cincinnati. Baker was hired as manager of the Cincinnati Reds baseball team, agreeing to a three-year deal Saturday with a team coming off its seventh straight losing season and looking for stability at the top. (AP Photo/The Cincinnati Enquirer, Carrie Cochran) (Carrie Cochran - AP)

"It was necessary because I had to let some wounds heal from Chicago," Baker said. "I was beat up pretty good when I was there."

Baker didn't hear from the Reds again until after the season. By then, they had decided he was the one they wanted.

"We wanted to come up with the person we felt was the best person to take the Reds forward and bring winning back to the Reds, but also provide the stability, continuity, credibility I spoke about," general manager Wayne Krivsky said.

Baker was impressed by the way the Reds pursued him, offering a three-year deal.

"This is the place where I was most wanted," Baker said. "That's a great feeling when you feel wanted and needed. You go into things with an upbeat attitude."

He's the first manager hired from outside the organization since Piniella, who inherited a much better situation. Piniella had a lineup built around Barry Larkin and Eric Davis, a rotation anchored by Jose Rijo and Tom Browning, and the Nasty Boys bullpen that carried the team to its title.

Baker gets a team with only two dependable starters (Aaron Harang and Bronson Arroyo). The only thing nasty about this bullpen is the earned run average: 5.13, worst in the league. The everyday lineup also is in transition.

One of the big offseason questions is whether they pick up Adam Dunn's $13 million option for next season. Dunn became the first player in Reds history to hit 40 homers in four consecutive seasons.

"I want him back," owner Bob Castellini said Monday. "We'll see what happens. There's a strong feeling that we want him back."

The Reds opened the season with a $69 million payroll, which ranked 20th in the majors. They have a lot of areas to upgrade coming off their third 90-loss season in the last seven years.

"Let's be honest: Most of the time you don't take over a winning situation," Baker said. "Most of the time, you take over a situation where a team's not doing very well. That's why they come get you in the first place.

"When I took over the Giants, we were in the bottom. I took over the Cubs, they were in the bottom. So I plan on taking this team to the top like I've done with the other teams _ and beyond. That's my goal.

"I've got to take it a little bit further and beyond, or else I won't be satisfied in my own life, in myself, if I don't bring a championship before I go home and play with my son."