Mets Show Willie Some Love

The New York Mets and manager Willie Randolph agreed Wednesday to a $5.65 million contract extension that runs through 2009.

Randolph, who last year led the Mets to their first division title since 1988, was supposed to earn $700,000 this year in the final season of a three-year agreement. Under this new deal, his salary will be doubled to $1.4 million. He'll get $2 million next year and $2.25 million in 2009, with a $2.5 million option for 2010 if the Mets choose to keep him around.

After a decade with the New York Yankees as their third base coach and another year as a bench coach, Randolph moved to the National League in 2005, finishing the Mets' season with a winning 83-79 third-place record in the AL East. Under Art Howe in 2004, the Mets finished fourth at 71-91.

Last year, the Mets ended the Atlanta Braves consecutive division title streak at 14 seasons, going 97-65 to tie with the Yankees for the best record in the majors. Seeking their first World Series title since 1986 and their first NL pennant since 2000, the Mets swept the Los Angeles Dodgers in the first round of the playoffs and lost in seven heated games to the St. Louis Cardinals in the NLCS.

[New York Post]