Oakland, CA

The Oakland A's have given manager Bob Melvin a two-year contract extension through 2016 after a successful 2012 campaign that earned him the American League Manager of the Year award.

"This was probably the simplest negotiation I've ever had in my career here, and I think that's a reflection of the relationship that Bob has with the organization, so we're happy to give him this well-deserved extension," general manager Billy Beane said.

"You get an extension from the people that you respect and admire and show so much support in you, it really makes you feel good and better about doing your job, and I've gotten that kind of support since the minute I've gotten here," Melvin said.

Melvin led the A's to a 94-68 showing and an AL West title last year in their first postseason appearance since 2006.

The 94 wins represented a 20-game improvement from 2011 (74-88), making for the third-biggest one-year turnaround in Oakland history.

It was Melvin's first full year at the helm in Oakland, as he was named interim manager on June 9, 2011. Months later, the interim label was removed from his title after signing a three-year contract.

That winter, Melvin lost a trio of All-Star pitchers in Gio Gonzalez, Trevor Cahill and Andrew Bailey but succeed in his first full year with the help of youngsters Jarrod Parker, Tommy Milone, Josh Reddick and Derek Norris.

The A's, who faced a 13-game deficit to Texas in the AL West on June 30, became only the fifth team to win a division or pennant after trailing by as many or more games.

By winning their last six games to clinch the division title on the regular season's final day, the A's became the first team to overcome a five-game deficit with as many as nine games remaining to win a division or pennant.

In Game 4 of the AL Division Series against the Detroit Tigers, the A's rallied from a 3-1 deficit with three runs in the bottom of the ninth inning to extend the series to a Game 5, which they lost.

Melvin has a 141-120 (.540) record since taking over the managerial duties in Oakland. In his nine seasons managing Seattle (2003-04), Arizona (2005-09) and the A's, he has a 634-628 (.502) record.

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