New contract for Manuel
The Phillies and manager Charlie Manuel agreed last night to a two-year contract that carries him through the 2009 season, plus a club option for 2010. Financial terms were not available.
Charlie Manuel will be back in the Phillies' dugout next year at Citizens Bank Park.
The Phillies and Manuel agreed last night to a two-year contract that carries him through the 2009 season, plus a club option for 2010. Financial terms were not available.
In his third season as manager, Manuel led the Phils to their first National League East championship since 1993 this season.
"I'm very happy about it," Manuel, 63, said last night in a telephone interview. "I'm happy to know that our organization believes in me, and I definitely plan on holding up my end of the bargain."
Manuel and his agent, Pat Rooney, met with Phillies general manager Pat Gillick and other front office officials for most of the day yesterday at Citizens Bank Park.
The Phillies will have a news conference at 10 a.m. today to discuss the deal. There are indications that the entire coaching staff will return next season as well.
"We love what Charlie brings to the ballpark every day, which is an upbeat, positive attitude that rubs off on the players," Gillick said in a news release. "He helped lead our club back to the playoffs, and he and his coaching staff did a great job, especially with the injury issues they faced throughout the season with a number of key players."
He said repeatedly during the year that he had no concerns about his future, but Manuel, whose three-year contract expired after the season, certainly wanted the security of a new contract.
How come that uncertain status never became a distraction?
"I think because of all the things that happened to us and all things we went through - injuries, things like that," Manuel said. "To be honest, I got so busy that I didn't even have the time to think about my contract. Every now and then when somebody asked me about it, I would think about it, but it didn't stay on my mind very long. I always focused on the team."
Gillick said recently he would leave the organization after his contract expires after 2008, but that had no impact on Manuel's new deal.
The Phillies had told Manuel they wanted him back during the final week of the season, when the Phils made history by overcoming a seven-game deficit with 17 games to play to overtake the Mets and make the playoffs.
The Phillies finished 89-73 this season before being swept by the Colorado Rockies in the NL division series. Arizona and Colorado led the league with 90 victories. Manuel picked up his 250th win as a Phillies manager last month, making him the fastest Phils manager to 250 wins since Pat Moran in 1915-18.
Manuel also managed the Cleveland Indians from 2000 to 2002. His three-season record with the Phillies is 262-224.
"It's nice because I don't have to worry about that part of my contract for the next couple years," Manuel said. "I can focus on the team, and that's what I tried to do all summer.
"I feel better. I feel like they definitely took care of me and showed me they want me. I'm a part of everything here, and that's I want. We want a World Series. I said when I came here I wanted to win. We got a little taste of that this year, but at the same time we still haven't completed what we set out to do."
Word from inside the organization last night was that many Phillies players were thrilled upon hearing the news.
Interest in Amaro? The St. Louis Cardinals are believed to have some interest in Ruben Amaro Jr., the Phillies' assistant general manager, for their GM vacancy. It is unclear as to whether the Cardinals have sought permission to speak with him.
The Phillies would not comment on the matter.
Charlie Manuel's Record
W L Pct
2007, Phillies 89 73 .549
2006, Phillies 85 77 .525
2005, Phillies 88 74 .543
2002, Indians 39 48 .448
2001, Indians 91 71 .562
2000, Indians 90 72 .556
Career 482 415 .537
Playoff record:
Manuel went 2-3 in 2001 with the Indians and 0-3 this year with the Phillies.
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