DETROIT, Mich
Although the sting of being swept out of the World Series is still fresh, Detroit Tigers manager Jim Leyland has decided to come back for another season on the bench.
The team announced Tuesday that they have extended Leyland’s contract for one year.
“Jim is as fine a manager as there is in baseball, he has done a fantastic job for the organization and we are thrilled to have him back managing the Tigers in 2013,” Tigers President Dave Dombrowski said. “I have a tremendous amount of respect for Jim and his ability to lead our club on the field. I am confident that you will not find a harder working or better prepared manager in the game.”
The 2013 season will be Leyland’s twenty-second as a big league manager and his eighth in Detroit. He has compiled a 1,676-1,659 record during his managerial career. Leyland’s 1,676 wins are tops among all active major league managers and 15th all-time in major league history.
The 67 year-old Leyland has guided the Tigers to a 607-528 record during his seven seasons as the club’s manager. He is one of only three managers in Tigers history to register at least 600 victories with the club. Sparky Anderson (1,331 wins) and Hughie Jennings (1,131 wins) are the two other managers with at least 600 wins with the club.
“Detroit is a tremendous baseball town and I couldn’t dream of a better place to manage,” Leyland said. “The support of Mr. Ilitch and Dave is second to none and gives this club an opportunity to win every year. Tigers fans and the people of Michigan have supported us so well during my time here, I can’t even begin to express how much that means to me.”
The Tigers have advanced to the post-season three times during Leyland’s managerial career with the club, including winning the American League Central Division in each of the last two seasons. Leyland joins Jennings as the only two managers in Tigers history to lead the club to post-season play in three seasons.
All six members of Leyland’s coaching staff have been invited to return for the 2013 season.
Also on Tuesday the Tigers exercised contract options on shortstop Jhonny Peralta and reliever Octavio Dotel.
