Jim Leyland signs on one year contract extension – MLB Detroit Tigers
According to a leading sports website, Detroit Tigers’ Manager Jim Leyland had signed on one year contract extension. Leyland, who has been managing the Tigers for the last seven years, is expected to be back in Detroit in 2013.
Tigers have achieved considerable success under Leyland’s supervision. In Leyland’s seven year tenure in Detroit, the Tigers have reached the post season three times and made it to the World Series finals twice.
With some of the best hitting and pitching talent in their squad, the Tigers had their best chance of ending their World Series title drought this season but the San Francisco Giants had other ideas.
Tigers were swept in the World Series 4-0, which led to rumours that Mike Ilitch might end Leyland’s contract. Leyland and the Tigers ended speculations about his status by making the official announcement on Tuesday afternoon.
''I really don't know why this is such a shock to everybody, because we told everybody that we weren't going to talk about this until after the season,'' Leyland said. ''It's not even 48 hours and it's done. I think it was pretty much exactly like we had
planned it.''
''I think he pretty much understood that we wanted him back, but it was not something that he really wanted to talk about,'' Dombrowski said. ''When you know somebody for an extended time, you know what areas you prefer to leave untouched - you don't talk
about certain things until it's that time.''
Leyland will be managing on a one year deal this year as well. It seems the skipper wants to take his future year by year at the twilight of his career. Leyland is one of the most experienced and reputable managers in the game today.
He is the most successful manager among all active managers with 1676 wins. Next season will be his 22nd straight Major League Baseball season as a manager and eighth in Detroit. Tigers’ coaching staff is also expected to be back for the next
season. It will be interesting to see if Leyland can lead the Tigers to World Series title glory in 2013.
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