Kelly gets one-year extension
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Tom Kelly knows only that his future includes at least one more season with the Minnesota Twins.
Kelly isn't sure beyond that after signing a one-year contract Tuesday that will take him into his 15th season with the Twins. That's the longest tenure of any coach or manager among the four major professional sports.
Kelly met with Carl Pohlad for nearly three hours Tuesday and told the Twins owner that he didn't want to sign a longer contract. Though there was speculation that Kelly might be let go, he said he went into the meeting with an assumption that the job was still his if wanted it.
"I wanted to manage at least one more year, maybe not more than that," Kelly said. "I've been managing a long time. Some say too long, but I don't think so.
"I was only interested in one year. We'll see how I feel mentally and physically after that."
Pohlad also initiated talks Tuesday with general manager Terry Ryan, who was at the Twins' instructional league in Fort Myers, Fla. Twins CEO Chris Clouser said he expects Ryan to be retained, but that it's Pohlad's decision.
The Twins have a strong base of starting pitchers (Brad Radke, Eric Milton and Mark Redman) and some promising young players (shortstop Cristian Guzman and outfielders Matt Lawton, Torii Hunter and Jacque Jones). Though few have questioned Kelly's ability to manage, doubts were raised about his lack of patience with the young players as the payroll fell to a major league low $15.8 million.
Clouser stopped short of saying he would increase the payroll, but said he intends to listen to Kelly's suggestions.
"Tom has provided the game plan, and we're going to deliver," Clouser said. "Tom's the right leader for these players."
Kelly, who led the Twins to World Series titles in 1987 and 1991, made it clear that he wanted to give it another try.
"Some people might say I've been managing a long time and I'd probably want to go to a team with a better chance to win," Kelly said. "But you have to see who you're working for, who's in charge. You have to look at issues like that.
"We've made the team better one time, two times. I'd like to make it better one more time. It's a challenge. Do you accept it or go somewhere where they give players $80 million to play?"
In recent years, Kelly has led Minnesota through eight straight losing seasons. Kelly has a 1,055-1,167 career record.
A native of Graceville, Minn., Kelly -- nicknamed "TK" -- began his relationship with the Twins as a minor league player in 1971. He replaced Ray Miller as the Twins' manager on Sept. 12, 1986.