Walt Weiss Signs 3-Year Extension with Colorado Rockies

The Colorado Rockies have agreed to a three-year extension with manager Walt Weiss, as first reported by the Denver Post's Troy E. Renck:

Dating back to last week, Renck reported that a deal between the club and Weiss was near. What makes Weiss' deal interesting is the three-year commitment, based on 2013 results and previous comments by Colorado's front office.

In his first season after making the jump from high school baseball coach to Rockies manager, Weiss guided Colorado to a 74-88 finish in 2013. It was a 10-game improvement from the team's record in 2012, but the Rockies still landed in last place in the National League West and out of contention by the stretch run of the season.

That hasn't deterred Weiss from setting lofty goals, according to the team's official Twitter account:

Weiss joined Colorado on a one-year accord last November, but Rockies owner Dick Monfort told Renck last week that he wanted to offer Weiss more security than other team employees. Renck reported that general manager Dan O'Dowd and assistant general manager Bill Geivett are each working without contracts.

"Other than our players, we have one guy under contract, and that's Walt," Monfort told Renck. "The other 210 people that work for the Rockies don't."

The Rockies offering Weiss a three-year extension speaks volumes about their confidence in him as a manager.

Colorado has bona fide stars to build around like Carlos Gonzalez and Troy Tulowitzki, as well as young rising players like catcher Wilin Rosario.

In addition, the Rockies' team ERA dropped from 5.22 in 2012 to 4.44 in 2013 under Weiss' watch, with 16-game winner Jorge De la Rosa leading the way, perhaps pointing to more improvement on the horizon.