Charlie Manuel is the final year of his contract with the Phillies. All he's done over that time is win four NL East titles and a World Series, so it stands to reason that he's expecting an extension. Cholly says he hopes it gets done before the season begins.
↵"Hopefully, something happens in spring training," Manuel said, the Inquirer reports. "My contract, I definitely don't want it to be a distraction for our team because I definitely put my team first. The players, that's why I get a contract. That's the whole purpose of me doing what I do."
↵I'm not entirely sure the managers' contract would ever become that big of a "distraction" for the players, nor does Phillies GM Ruben Amaro who smugly answered when asked about the potential for Manuel contract negotiations affecting the team,
↵"I don't view it as a distraction for our players because we don't make our negotiations public."
↵The story didn't say whether he chuckled condescendingly afterward.
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