Royals extend manager Ned Yost's contract through 2016
Ned Yost managed his Kansas City Royals to their first playoff appearance in 29 years last season, and on Tuesday that success paid off.
The Royals announced that they've agreed to a one-year contract extension with Yost, keeping him in Kansas City through the 2016 season. Yost had one year remaining on the two-year extension he signed with the club in 2013.
Andy McCullough of the Kansas City Star reports Yost only sought a one-year extension due to Royals general manager Dayton Moore's contract status.
"Dayton's got this year and next year, and that's all I wanted," Yost told the Star. "One extra year, I'm happy with that."
Yost, 60, is entering his sixth season with the Royals after managing the club to an 89-73 record and American League pennant. He was recognized for his efforts after finishing third in AL Manager of the Year voting.
The Royals' playoff run helped vindicate the oft-criticized manager, who was skewered during his first two years in Kansas City for his lineup construction and sometimes ill-advised strategic moves.
Yost's unique brand of late-game decision-making nearly sealed his club's fate in the AL wild card game, when he lifted James Shields for rookie Yordano Ventura, despite having the Royals' lights-out bullpen at his full disposal. Nevertheless, Kansas City pulled off an improbable win over the Oakland Athletics and proceeded to win another seven straight games to break the record for most consecutive wins to begin a postseason.
The Royals' Cinderella season extended into the World Series, where the club lost in seven games to the San Francisco Giants.
Kansas City has slowly climbed the standings since Yost was hired as a special assistant in 2010 and later named manager in May that same season.
| YEAR | W-L | WPCT | AL Central |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 55-72 | .433 | 5th |
| 2011 | 71-91 | .438 | 4th |
| 2012 | 72-90 | .444 | 3rd |
| 2013 | 86-76 | .531 | 3rd |
| 2014 | 89-73 | .549 | 2nd* |
* clinched second wild-card berth
Moore spoke to ESPN in September about his decision to hire Yost, after the former big league catcher managed the Milwaukee Brewers to a 457-502 record across six seasons.
"You know how I knew that Ned Yost was a tremendous leader?" Moore said. "Because he's never said one negative word about the Milwaukee Brewers, or their ownership, or Doug Melvin. He's never said, 'They did me wrong' or ripped anybody, or reflected on the past in a negative way. He was all about how we're moving forward. That's what you have to do in this game."