Not done yet
DETROIT — Jim Leyland is returning next year as manager of the Detroit Tigers.
The team and its manager quickly ended any remaining speculation about his status by announcing Tuesday that Leyland’s contract was extended through 2013. He managed on a one-year deal this year and led the Tigers to the World Series, where they were swept by the San Francisco Giants.
“Detroit is a tremendous baseball town and I couldn’t dream of a better place to manage,” Leyland said in a statement. “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 team said Leyland’s coaching staff also has been invited to return.
Next season will be Leyland’s 22nd as a major league manager and his eighth in Detroit. He’s led the Tigers to the postseason three times and the World Series twice.
The 67-year-old former Pittsburgh Pirates manager leads all active managers with 1,676 wins, a total that puts him 15th on the career list.
“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,” general manager 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.”
