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Mets and manager Jerry Manuel agree to 2-year deal

(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-10-04 13:28

NEW YORK -- Jerry Manuel, who fell just short of taking the New York Mets to a playoff berth after taking over as manager for Willie Randolph, was given a two-year contract Friday.

Manuel also has a club option for 2011.

"Jerry did a very good job taking over the club midseason, and we believe that he is the right person to manage our team and lead us to the postseason," Mets general manager Omar Minaya said in a statement.

Manuel was promoted to manager on an interim basis June 17, when New York was 34-35.

While the Mets built a 3 1/2-game National League East lead in September, they lost 10 of their final 17 games and were eliminated from postseason contention on the final day of the season for the second straight year. They finished at 89-73.

Minaya, who received a new contract Thursday that runs through 2012, praised Manuel after the manager steadied a group of players that had been on edge during the final weeks of Randolph's tenure. Manuel joined the Mets as first base and outfield coach in 2005, then became bench coach the following season.

"I am thrilled and appreciative for the opportunity that ownership and Omar have given me to continue to manage the Mets," he said in a statement.

"Jerry has done an excellent job in all ways, on and off the field," owner Fred Wilpon said last weekend. "And Jerry is a great gentleman."

Manuel was AL manager of the year in 2000, when he led the Chicago White Sox to a league-best 95-67 record. He was fired by Chicago in 2003 following his sixth season as manager.