The Rockies and manager Walt Weiss are closing in on a contract extension, team owner Dick Monfort told Troy Renck of the Denver Post. The deal will be for multiple years and should be finalized by the end of next week, according to Renck.
In his first season as their manager, Weiss, a former Rockies shortstop, managed the team to a 74-88 record. The team enjoyed its status as a surprise contender in the first half but faded down the stretch. As Renck reminds, Weiss was initially helping the Rockies' search committee before quickly becoming a candidate himself. This past season was Weiss' first as a Major League manager. Late in the season, he told Renck:
"There's an expectation around here now, I can sense. Guys are expected to compete at a certain way and at a certain level. That's starting to become the standard. I have really enjoyed the way the guys have fought down the stretch, especially as the season got away from us and we weren't in the race. Usually the true colors show then."
It's been a newsworthy week for the Rockies already, as the team exercised Jorge De La Rosa's option yesterday and are expected to pursue a long-term deal with him this winter as well.
