Terry Francona, Cleveland Indians agree to extension

CLEVELAND -- Terry Francona kept the Indians in the playoff race this season despite injuries, awful defense and sub-par years from several key players.

On Tuesday, Cleveland's manager was rewarded for his efforts.

The Indians and Francona agreed on a two-year extension that will take him through the 2018 season. The extension includes club options for 2019 and 2020. The 55-year-old signed a four-year to join the Indians in 2012.

Financial terms of the extension were not immediately known.

Francona, who won two World Series titles with the Boston Red Sox, has done everything the Indians could have hoped in his first two seasons.

The club went 92-70 in 2013 and won a wild-card spot, making the postseason for the first time since 2007. This season, the Indians went 85-77 and dropped to third in the AL Central. However, by mixing and matching lineups and getting the most from his bullpen, Francona had the Indians close until the final weekend and they finished with consecutive winning seasons for the first time since 2000-01.

"His leadership and the leadership of his coaching staff set the tone for our players," general manager Chris Antonetti said after the season. "It doesn't matter whether we had a crushing loss or we won by 10 runs. He shows up every single day with enthusiasm and is ready to go figure out a way to win that game."

The Indians have gone 177-147 under Francona, who enjoys being in Cleveland and working with Antonetti and team president Mark Shapiro. Francona worked as a special assistant with the Indians under Shapiro and Antonetti from 2001-03 before he took over as Boston's manager.

Since 2004, Francona's teams have posted 10 consecutive winning seasons. Francona has endeared himself to his players with his openness and honesty, and the man known as "Tito" has become popular with Cleveland fans.

Francona was named the AL's manager of the year in 2013.