Tigers owner Mike Ilitch has just announced that the Tigers extended the contracts of General Manager Dave Dombrowski and skipper Jim Leyland. Dombrowski has received a four-year contract extension and Jim Leyland was extended through next season.
Tigers beat writer Matthew B. Mowery tweeted some quotes from Mike Ilitch on the respective extensions:
#Tigers owner Mike Ilitch on Dombrowski: "Dave has built a solid foundation for this organization and assembled competitive teams that give us a chance to win year in and year out. We have a lot of confidence in his continued leadership of the Detroit Tigers. I am pleased Dave has agreed to continue to lead our organization."
#Tigers owner Mike Ilitch on Leyland's extension: "I know Jim shares our desire to deliver a winner. We’re pleased to have him continue leading the Detroit Tigers on the field."
Jim Leyland also expressed his gratitude for another year:
"I want to thank Mr. Ilitch and Dave Dombrowski for the support and confidence they have shown in me and I look forward to managing the Detroit Tigers in 2012. Also, my many thanks go out to generations of Tigers fans who have supported the Tigers through the good times as well as the tough times. I’m proud to take the responsibility to assure Mr. Ilitch, Dave and our many fans that we will never fall short of doing everything we can to maintain the pride of our organization and our fans."
I expected extensions to eventually happen, but it's kind of mind boggling that they came at this juncture. Seriously, what's the rush?