MLB Roundup: Leyland, Peavy Get Extensions, Mets Exercise Wright’s Option

Now that the 2012 MLB season has officially ended, it’s time to look ahead to 2013. Opening day will start on April 1 if you don’t count the Sunday game on March 30 as the opener.

Teams are looking ahead to their personnel for the new season and one has already said its manager will be back. World Series-losing Detroit Tigers manager Jim Leyland has been awarded with a one-year contract extension.

The Chicago White Sox inked a two-year extension with pitcher Jake Peavy and the New York Mets exercised their option on third baseman David Wright.

Leyland Receives One-Year Contract Extension

Tigers Manager Jim Leyland

In less than 48 hours after its loss against the San Francisco Giants in the World Series, the Detroit Tigers gave veteran manager Jim Leyland a one-year contract extension.

Leyland said of the news, “I’m going to be here in 2013, and we’ll take that from there. I wanted to manage, but I did think long and hard about it, because I wanted to make sure that I was going to be doing everything that you need to do to continue to keep this club headed in the right direction.”

And the Tigers should stick with Leyland.

At 67, the veteran skipper is the league’s leading manager with 1,676 wins–No. 15 on the career list. In 2013, it will be season No. 22 as a MLB manager and his eighth for the Tigers. Under his leadership, the team has three postseason visits and two World Series.

In regards to Leyland’s coaching staff, they are expected back with some minor tweaks.

With Leyland still leading the team, the Tigers have 6 to 1 odds to win the 2013 World Series.

The team will now focus on its players and they have exercised the $6 million option on shortstop Jhonny Peralta and the $3.5 million one on righty pitcher Octavio Dotel.

The team is expected to allow closer Jose Valverde and designated hitter Delmon Young to hit free agency while they will attempt to re-sign free agent and highly coveted righty Anibal Sanchez.

Peavy Gets Two-Year Extension

White Sox Pitcher Jake Peavy

On Tuesday, the Chicago White Sox gave pitcher Jake Peavy a two-year, $29 million extension. In 2013 and 2014, he will receive $14.5 million but if he hits his innings pitched thresholds in the seasons, he can extend his contract to encompass the 2015 season with a $15 million salary.

In 2012, Peavy was 11-12 with a 3.37 ERA over 219 innings. From his 32 starts, he had 194 strikeouts.

Among American league pitchers, he ranked No. 3 for quality starts (23), tied for third with complete games, fourth in strikeout-to-walk ratio (3.96), fifth for IP and opponents average (.234), tied for shutouts at No. 7 (1), eighth in strikeouts, ninth in ERA and tied for 10th in starts.

Peavy said of the extension, “I’m really excited to come back to Chicago and build on what we did last year. I made no secret of the fact that this is where I want to play. Chicago is a great city with great fans, and I can’t think of a better place to try and win a championship. With the guys we have coming back, I think we have a great opportunity to accomplish some special things.”

In other White Sox news, the team declined options for Kevin Youkilis and Brett Myers while exercising Gavin Floyd’s option.

It was a good 2012 season for the White Sox but looking ahead for 2013, they have 28 to 1 odds to win the World Series.

Mets Exercise Option on David Wright

Mets 3B David Wright

On Tuesday, the Mets exercised the $16 million option for third baseman Wright  reported ESPN. This came as the three-day deadline after the World Series was coming due.

The Mets will try to ink a long-term extension with Wright but one isn’t close and the team instead chose to exercise his option and conduct talks.

Last season, Wright hit .306 and had 21 homers with 93 RBIs. He made an appearance at the All-Star game for a sixth time.