Bud Black will not be a lame duck manager in the final year of his contract in 2022.
Instead, the Colorado Rockies gave him a one-year extension that will keep him as manager through the 2023 season.
Black has helmed the club since being hired in 2017, immediately taking Colorado to their first postseason since 2009. He did the same in 2018, becoming the first in the franchise’s 29-year history to make consecutive postseasons.
By the end of this contract, Black will have managed more years for the Rockies (7) than anyone not named Clint Hurdle, who spent parts of eight seasons in the skipper’s seat.
He is currently 349-359 with a winning-percentage of .493, best in franchise history.
Before joining Colorado, Black served as manager of the San Diego Padres from 2007 to 2015, winning the NL Manager of the Year Award in 2010. He’s combined to win 998 games during his 14 years at the helm. With two more wins, he’ll become one of just 66 mangers to reach 1,000.
Since those back-to-back postseasons, the Rockies have struggled in the win column.
Despite holding the top Wild Card spot in the National League in 2019 on June 20, the Rockies went 31-57 the rest of the way. The last two seasons have been similar disappointments for Colorado finishing fourth in the NL West on both occasions.
Black has dealt with a lot of front office turnover in the last 12 months, including the resignation of GM Jeff Bridich mid-season, the loss of two Assistant GMs (also mid-season) and the appointment of a new general manager, long-time associate Bill Schmidt.
On the field, the roster was impacted by the trade of 3B Nolan Arenado in Feb 2021. And in 2022, Black will have to manage without free agents RHP Jon Gray, who signed a four-year, $56 million deal with the Texas Rangers, and SS Trevor Story, who has indicated the preference for a change in location.
One thing that has been constant since Black took over for Walt Weiss following the 2016 season: starting pitching.
Black, a former pitcher primarily with Kansas City, Cleveland and San Francisco from 1981-1995, has overseen the best collection of starters in franchise history.
Even with the loss of Gray, the Rockies boast a solid rotation, one-through-four: RHP Germán Márquez, LHP Kyle Freeland, RHP Antonio Senzatela and LHP Austin Gomber.
