Gardenhire gets two-year extension through 2011

The Twins extended Manager Ron Gardenhire's contract through 2011 today and signed the coaching staff through 2010.

By JOE CHRISTENSEN, Star Tribune

Last update: November 14, 2008 - 9:04 AM

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The Twins have signed manager Ron Gardenhire to a two-year extension, which will keep him under contract through 2011, the team announced today.

Gardenhire’s previous extension had him under contract through next season, so this one will cover the 2010 and 2011 seasons.

Gardenhire’s coaches were also given two-year contracts. Bench coach Steve Liddle, pitching coach Rick Anderson, hitting coach Joe Vavra, third-base coach Scott Ullger, first-base coach Jerry White and bullpen coach Rick Stelmaszek are signed through 2010, along with trainers Rick McWane and Dave Pruemer and strength and conditioning coach Perry Castellano.

“Ron and his staff have done an outstanding job over the last seven years, and none was better than the 2008 season,” Twins General Manager Bill Smith said in a statement. “We had a lot of new players and a lot of young players, and our major league staff did a marvelous job with a changing cast of players.

“Continuity has been a great strength of the Twins organization for two decades. The current staff has played an important role in the design and development of the Target Field facilities, and these agreements will carry the staff into the new ballpark in 2010.”

Gardenhire, 51, has posted a 622-512 (.549) record and won four division titles since being named Twins manager on Jan. 4, 2002. He finished second in the American League Manager of the Year voting on Wednesday for the fourth time.

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