Ned Yost Signs One Year Contract Extension

One had to expect this would be coming at some point. After helping to guide the Royals to the playoffs, and the World Series, for the first time in 29 years, it was a matter of time before Ned Yost received a contract extension. After all, with only one year left on his current deal, it is difficult to imagine that he would enter the 2015 season as a ‘lame duck’ manager.

That expected extension was announced earlier today, as the Kansas City Royals and Yost agreed to a one year extension, keeping him as manager through the 2016 season.

It may seem strange that the Royals extended Ned Yost by only one year, but that may have been by design. According to Andy McCullough, Yost only wants to manage another two or three years anyway, so perhaps he is taking each extension on a year by year basis.

Ned Yost is already the longest tenured manager in Royals history, and he ranks third ont he all time wins list, behind Whitey Herzog and the late Dick Howser. Those 38 wins that he needs to take over the spot should come early in the upcoming season, as Yost continues to carve his path in the Royals managerial history books. The Royals are, for better or for worse, a reflection of Ned Yost. He has done almost everything that could be asked of him, short of winning a World Series. Now, with what should be a deeper lineup and bullpen, Yost will have that chance. And he has the comfort of knowing that he is going to be in Kansas City for, at least, one more year.