Jim Leyland Signs To Stay With Bucs Through 2000
Jim Leyland, quieting rumors that he wants to move on to a contending team, agreed Tuesday to manage the Pittsburgh Pirates through 2000.
Moving to stabilize their management before new owners take over, the Pirates also signed general manager Cam Bonifay to a contract extension through 1998. Leyland and Bonifay had been signed through 1996.
“We are constantly being contacted by clubs interested in talking with Jim Leyland,” team president Mark Sauer said. “This will put a stop to those inquiries.”
Kevin McClatchy, the California businessman who reached a preliminary purchase agreement last week to buy the money-losing Pirates, was consulted about the signings.
Leyland previously made about $850,000 a season, and his new contract will be worth slightly less than $1 million per season. His initial one-year contract in 1986 paid him $100,000, or less than the current major-league minimum.
”(The new contract) is a bundle, but money has never been an issue with me,” Leyland said. “It’s more than most and less than some.”
Leyland, a two-time National League manager of the year, turned down offers from several contenders to continue managing the N.L.’s worst team.
In Tokyo, The Chiba Lotte Marines fired manager Bobby Valentine, the first American to manage a Japanese team, although Valentine led the team to its best finish in 10 years.
A team spokesman said Marines management and Valentine had different views, reflecting “differences in U.S. and Japanese baseball.”
Valentine, who managed the Texas Rangers from 1985-92 and was the winnigest manager in the team’s history, led the Marines to a 69-58 record this season, second in the Pacific League.
Team spokesman Kazuhito Maruyama said Valentine and Chiba Lotte management differed in training plans for players. Valentine did not want to overwork the players in practice, fearing he would exhaust them before games, Maruyama said, while team management wanted Valentine to concentrate on fundamentals and training.
Lou Boudreau is listed as “doubtful” for this year’s World Series.
“I was invited to attend, but the doctors said it wouldn’t be a good idea for me to travel,” Boudreau said from his south suburban Chicago home.
The “Good Kid,” is 78 years old “and I’ve got arthritis in my back and one of those baseball knees.”
The Hall of Fame shortstop/manager directed the Cleveland Indians to their last World Series title in 1948, hitting .355.
Gene Michael’s tenure as general manager of the New York Yankees will end today when the club announces that he is now their director of major-league scouting.
Michael met with principal Owner George Steinbrenner in Tampa last weekend, and the new position apparently was created specifically for Michael.