Leyland re-ups with Motown through 2009 season

DETROIT -- The man who helped restore the Detroit Tigers' roar will be with the team for an extra year.

Manager Jim Leyland got what he wanted Tuesday when the Tigers extended his contract by one year, keeping him in the dugout through the 2009 season.

Leyland said last week he planned to meet with Tigers president Dave Dombrowski the day after the season and hoped to drive home to Pittsburgh knowing he had two years on his deal.

"We are very happy with the outstanding job he has done and with the leadership he provides our organization," Dombrowski said in a statement. "We look forward to Jim managing the Tigers for a long time."

During the final homestand, Leyland said he wanted to manage "for a while," but didn't want to have more than two years on his contract, giving the Tigers and him flexibility.

A year after reaching the World Series in Leyland's first season, the Tigers finished 88-74, eight games behind Cleveland in the AL Central. Ahead early in the wild-card race, they did not threaten the New York Yankees down the stretch.

"I have enjoyed my first two seasons as the manager, and I appreciate the tremendous fan support from all the great Tigers' fans," Leyland said in a statement. "I look forward to managing the Tigers for a long time."

Leyland's Detroit debut was tough to top.

He helped baseball's losingest franchise for more than a decade reach the World Series for the first time since 1984.

The Tigers were hit with injuries this season from spring training, when standout starter Kenny Rogers discovered a blood clot in his shoulder, through September, when designated hitter Gary Sheffield tried to play with a shoulder injury.

Sheffield is scheduled to have his shoulder examined on Thursday to determine whether surgery is necessary.

Leyland said he was more proud of this team than last year's ballclub in some ways because it had to overcome more obstacles, and the players didn't readily make excuses as they stayed in contention for the wild card until the final week of the season.

Detroit has had a winning record in consecutive seasons for the first time since 1987-88.