MLB roundup: Royals re-sign Yost
The managerial news Tuesday all swung in favor of incumbents.
The Kansas City Royals signed manager Ned Yost to a two-year contract extension through the 2015 season. The New York Yankees announced that they want to retain manager Joe Girardi, and a report indicated the Texas Rangers will bring back manager Ron Washington.
Yost, 59, is 284-329 (.463) in four seasons with the Royals, with the team winning more games in each season, including an 86-76 record in 2013 -- the franchise's best since 1989.
The Royals came out hot after the All-Star break and slowly climbed back into the playoff race, but then they dropped 10 of 12 in August, including seven straight home games. That slide put their record at 64-64 on Aug. 24. They finished strong, but not strong enough to end a 28-year-old playoff drought, the longest active streak in the majors.
In New York, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said he wants Girardi to remain on the job.
"I think he likes it here," Cashman said. "We're going to give him a real good reason to stay."
Girardi was hired after the 2007 season, and his contract expires at the end of October. Injuries hurt the Yankees this season, and they posted their poorest record since 1992, finishing tied for third in the AL East at 85-77.
Cashman said he met with Girardi on Monday, and he will meet with agent Steve Mandell on Wednesday to continue talks.
One day after the Rangers lost a tiebreaking game for the second American League wild card, CBSSports.com reported that Washington would return as manager.
Washington's job status was brought into question following the Rangers' second consecutive disappointing end to a season. Texas lost the American League West title on the final day of the 2012 season and before falling to the Tampa Bay Rays on Monday to miss out on the 2013 postseason.
Washington, 61, is 611-524 (.538) with two AL West titles and two AL pennants in seven seasons as the Rangers' manager.
--Speedy outfielder Billy Hamilton was added to the Cincinnati Reds' roster for Tuesday night's National League wild-card game against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Hamilton was included on the Reds' 25-man roster that was set Tuesday morning. Cincinnati had room to include him by leaving starting pitchers Mat Latos, Bronson Arroyo and Greg Reynolds off the roster for the single-game showdown.
Hamilton, who was a September call-up, stole 13 bases in 14 attempts and scored nine runs. He was often used as a late-inning pinch runner.
--Right-hander Max Scherzer will take the mound for the Detroit Tigers in Game 1 of the American League Division Series on Friday night against the Oakland Athletics, who will start Bartolo Colon.
The remainder of the Tigers' four-man rotation for the series is Justin Verlander, Anibal Sanchez and Doug Fister.
A's manager Bob Melvin will go with rookie Sonny Gray in Game 2, followed by Jarrod Parker and Dan Straily. A.J. Griffin, who led the A's in innings this season and ranked second in ERA behind Colon, won't be in the ALDS rotation because of an elbow injury.
--Right-hander Lance Lynn, who won his final two starts of the regular season, was selected as the St. Louis Cardinals' starting pitcher for Game 2 of the National League Division Series.
Adam Wainwright will start Game 1 on Thursday against the winner of Tuesday's wild-card game between Cincinnati and Pittsburgh.
--After a disappointing, injury-plagued season, Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Josh Johnson underwent right elbow surgery Tuesday.
The arthroscopic procedure, performed by Dr. James Andrews, cleared out loose bodies and a bone spur, the Blue Jays announced in a press release. Johnson could resume throwing in five weeks, meaning he should be back at full strength for spring training, according to MLB.com.
Johnson, 29, will be a free agent following the World Series. He finished 2-8 with a 6.20 ERA in 16 starts this year.
