Rockies and Manager Walt Weiss agree to three-year deal

The Colorado Rockies announced today that the club has agreed to a three-year contract with Manager Walt Weiss. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, per club policy. 

"I am very excited and grateful to have the opportunity to lead this club as we work toward building a championship level team," said Weiss.

Weiss, 49, led the Rockies to a 74-88 record in his first season as the club's Manager in 2013. The Rockies 74-88 mark was a 10-game improvement over their 2012 record (64-98). Weiss returned to the Rockies organization in 2013, a place where he played four seasons (1994-97) during his 14-year Major League career and where he spent seven seasons from 2002-2008 as a Special Assistant to the General Manager.

In addition to his time in Colorado, the former All-Star shortstop spent his time in the Major Leagues with Oakland (1987-1992), Florida (1993) and Atlanta (1998-2000). In those 14 seasons he compiled a batting average of .258 (1207-for-4686) with 182 doubles, 31 triples, 25 home runs, 386 RBI, 96 stolen bases, 658 walks and 658 strikeouts in 1,495 games.

The Tuxedo, NY native was a member of four World Series teams, including the 1989 World Champion Oakland Athletics. Weiss was named the 1988 AL Rookie of the Year after hitting .250 (113-for-452) with 17 doubles, 3 triples, 3 home runs and 39 RBI in 147 games, all at shortstop, for the American League Champion Oakland Athletics. The switch-hitter made his lone All-Star Game appearance as an Atlanta Brave in the 1998 game played at Coors Field. In the field, Weiss posted a career .970 fielding percentage in 1,462 games, including turning 854 doubles plays and logging 11,932.1 innings, all at shortstop.

Weiss is the sixth manager in Rockies franchise history, having been preceded by Don Baylor (1993-1998), Jim Leyland (1999), Buddy Bell (2000-2002), Clint Hurdle (2002-09) and Jim Tracy (2009-12).