Earlier in the day rumors indicated the Oakland Athletics were signing manager Bob Melvin to a contract extension. It's not everyday a skipper gets rewarded for a 60-79 campaign, but, as expected, the team announced the move during a press conference on Wednesday.
Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle was the first to report Melvin's extension this morning and shortly thereafter Jon Heyman of CBS Sports said he was hearing the same thing.
Slusser also reported last month that Melvin is "very much in line for a long-term extension, something that is likely to be announced at the end of the season."
Oakland confirmed the news at a 6:30 p.m. ET team press conference at the O.co Coliseum. Melvin was already under contract through 2016.
"I want him around as we go through this transition. He was the right guy for the last generation, and he'll be the right guy for the next generation," general manager Billy Beane said. "Well-deserved. It's somebody we feel very proud to have running the club."
#Athletics agree to terms with manager Bob Melvin on a two-year contract extension through the 2018 season.
— Oakland Athletics (@Athletics) September 9, 2015
"I'm fully committed to this team, this organization, and this fan base...." - Manager Bob Melvin #GreenCollar pic.twitter.com/lTbWBwpENF
— Oakland Athletics (@Athletics) September 9, 2015
Before this season and the disaster that followed, Melvin had been one of the most successful managers in the MLB. He guided the A's to three consecutive playoff appearances and two AL West titles in his first three full seasons as manager after taking over for Bob Geren in the middle of the 2011 season. Oakland is 385-339 (.532) under Melvin, but has never made it beyond the ALDS.
Melvin, 53, is 878-847 (.509) in 12 seasons as manager. He began his managerial career with the Seattle Mariners from 2003-2004 and was hired by the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2004 before he was fired in 2009. Oakland then took him on board after firing Geren.
