MLB: Tigers give Leyland two-year extension

In the Interest of Good Taste We Changed Our Pack. For the Same Reason, We Didn’t Change Our Manager.

Jim Leyland’s future will remain in a Tiger uniform. The team and the manager agreed Friday to a two-year contract extension, ending speculation while rewarding the veteran skipper for a first-place start with a team that has had no shortage of challenges.

The deal was quickly negotiated and finalized Friday morning between Leyland and team president/general manager Dave Dombrowski in Leyland’s office. It was arguably fitting, given the way the Tigers have had to react to one situation after another to keep the team headed in the right direction.

“It’s extremely well-deserved,” Dombrowski said in making the announcement. “He’s done a tremendous job for our organization since he’s been here. He’s done a great job this year keeping our club in first place and continuing to work hard along with his staff. It’s a happy day to be able to make this announcement.”

It was not a day that Leyland was expecting quite so soon.

“This was a total shock,” Leyland said. “I kind of assumed this was going to be at the end of the year and [the team would] evaluate and it would be yes or no.”