The Oakland Athletics are in the midst of a down year, but the team has remained steadfast in its commitment to manager Bob Melvin.
According to the team’s official Twitter account, the A’s agreed to terms with Melvin on a two-year contract extension that will keep him in Oakland through 2018. Financial details of the new pact were not disclosed.
The 2012 AL Manager of the Year led the franchise to playoff appearances every season from 2012 to 2014, and he reiterated Wednesday that he’s looking forward to a future in the Bay Area.
“I’m fully committed to this team, this organization, and this fan base,” Melvin told reporters Wednesday, according to the team’s official Twitter account.
Bleacher Report’s Scott Miller was quick to note that Melvin remains one of MLB‘s best managerial minds:
A’s players—including catcher Stephen Vogt—seemed to agree with that sentiment based on their reactions to the news, according to the San Francisco Chronicle‘s Susan Slusser:
Melvin broke into the managerial ranks during the 2003 season with the Seattle Mariners, and he’s established himself as one of the league’s best baseball minds over the past 12 years.
According to Baseball-Reference, Melvin owns a career winning percentage of .509 with the Mariners, Arizona Diamondbacks and A’s, and that figure has ballooned to .532 since he arrived in Oakland.
“(Bob Melvin) comes in believing he’s going to win,” general manager Billy Beane said at Wednesday’s press conference, according to the A’s Twitter account.
With Melvin at the helm, Oakland is primed to throttle back into contention in the AL West as it gets ready to shake off a disappointing 2015 campaign. And given his esteemed track record, fans shouldn’t expect anything less.
Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com