KC Royals: Ned Yost Signs One-Year Extension

Kansas City Royals manager Ned Yost signed a one-year extension with the club on Tuesday in a much-expected move after winning the 2014 American League pennant.

Yost had been in his final contract year in 2015, which has now been extended through the 2016 season.

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While the move had been widely anticipated, the short one-year extension is rather interesting.

If the Royals had not come off their most successful season in 29-years, I might think the club just added the extra year to prevent Yost from being a lame-duck manager—with the short-term indicating a lack of surety from the club.

In the 60-year-old Ned Yost‘s case, however, I think his comment to ESPN that he might want to manage a few more years in the wake of the 2o14 World Series suggests the reason for the short extension. I’m guessing that Yost isn’t sure how many more years he wants to remain in the dugout and will simply keep adding single years until he’s had enough.

Yost guided the 2014 Royals to 89 wins, which is the highest win total for the club since they won 92 in 1989. He also finished 3rd in the AL Manager of the Year vote.

Ned Yost was named Kansas City manager on May 13, 2010, replacing the fired Trey Hillman. He’s compiled a 373-402 record in nearly 5 seasons in KC, and went 11-4 in the Royals only playoff appearance last season.

Yost’s 373 manager wins are the 3rd most in Kansas City Royals history behind Whitey Herzog (410) and Dick Howser (404).

Aside from Kansas City, Yost managed the Milwaukee Brewers for 6 seasons between 2003 to 2008. He was fired by Milwaukee with 2 weeks left in the 2008 season despite his club being in 1st place in the Central division. Dale Sveum took over and led the Brewers to the Central title before losing 3 games to 1 in the National League Division Series to eventual Champion Philadelphia.

Yost finished his Milwaukee tenure with a 452-502 record, which gives him an overall 830-904 record with one division title, one wild card finish, and one pennant in his 11-year career.

I certainly have no problem with extending Ned Yost, despite leveling criticism at him in the past. It became clear to me during the playoffs that the team has completely bought into his program, which makes up for his perceived tactical shortcomings.

The bottom line is that he had the Royals ready to face, and overcome, playoff pressure in 2014.

Ned Yost deserves the chance to bring home the title that the Royals couldn’t quite grasp last year.

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