PHOENIX (Ticker) - Ned Yost is a lame-duck manager no longer.
The Milwaukee Brewers awarded Yost a two-year contract extension with a club option for 2009, general manager Doug Melvin announced Saturday.
Yost, 51, completed his third year as Brewers manager in 2005, leading them to a .500 season and snapping their streak of 12 consecutive losing seasons. Milwaukee's 81-81 finish last season marked a 14-game improvement from 2004.
"I strongly believe Ned is the right person to lead the Milwaukee Brewers on the field," Melvin said. 'His work ethic, leadership skills and passion for the Brewers fans coupled with his commitment to make the entire organization successful confirmed to us that this was the right thing to do as we move forward in our pursuit of playing in the postseason."
The club picked up Yost's option for the 2006 season last August.
Before coming to the Brewers in 2003, the 51-year-old Yost spent 15 seasons in the Atlanta Braves organization as a major league coach and minor league manager.