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Sport Sections
Monday, February 19
Manuel's new deal runs through 2004


TUCSON, Ariz. – Jerry Manuel won AL Manager of the Year after leading the Chicago White Sox to the AL Central title in his third season. Chicago rewarded him Sunday with a contract extension through 2004 with a club option for 2005. His current deal ran through this year with a White Sox option for 2001.

In an era of agents, Manuel did his own negotiating.

"I believe in agents. They have their place. I don't know if my situation really warranted me having one," Manuel said. "I think with the relationship I have with Jerry Reinsdorf, Kenny Williams and Ron Schueler, it could be worked out in fashion that's fair."

Williams first approached Manuel with the idea after Reinsdorf, the team owners, hired him in October to replace Schueler as general manager.

"In between, we had the Alex Rodriguez thing pop up and that consumed a large portion of time. We were getting the club together and I had to put him on the back burner," Williams said.

"Jerry showed a tremendous amount of patience. It was something that was done relatively quickly and easy when we got the time to sit down with one another."

Three years ago, the White Sox hired Manuel to work with their younger players as they decided to cut their payroll and basically rebuild.

Chicago was 80-82 in Manuel's first season and 75-86 in 1999. Then last year, the White Sox stunned baseball by going an AL-best 95-87. Seattle then swept the White Sox 3-0 in the first round of the playoffs.

Williams said Manuel was rewarded for the way he managed "a team in contention as well as getting us to this point with his ability to lead and develop a young team."

Known for his patience and easygoing manner, Manuel showed his leadership skills a year ago when he stood up to star Frank Thomas during an early spring training screaming match.

Williams said Sunday that Manuel is satisfied with the deal in relation to where it puts him financially with other managers. Joe Torre of the Yankees has the top salary at $3 million.

"For me and my wife, we have endured basically a kind of a minor league life style," said Manuel, a coach with Montreal from 1991-96 and then with Florida. "We've been happy and satisfied with that and not necessarily concerned about it."

Then with a smile, he added: "I didn't necessarily get A-Rod money."

Manuel has a 250-235 record in his three seasons.

Also, Williams said the White Sox plan to hand their documentation in the David Wells-for-Mike Sirotka trade dispute directly to Sandy Alderson, executive vice president of baseball operations for the commissioner's office. Alderson will be in Arizona for a meeting on the strike zone, Williams said. The commissioner's office gave both teams until Tuesday morning to file their papers. The dispute is centered on Sirotka's sore shoulder. Williams said he still hopes it can be resolved by the end of the week. Wells is due in camp either Monday or Tuesday.

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