Leyland confirms desire to continue managing

OAKLAND -- The Tigers and manager Jim Leyland both say they'll address his contract situation once their season ends. Leyland in particular doesn't want his status to become a distraction for his team during its postseason run.

That said, he might have put to rest the speculation that he might decide to walk away. After a report from CBSSports.com's Danny Knobler said Leyland has been telling friends he doesn't plan on retirement at season's end, Leyland said as much to reporters.

"Everybody's known that I want to manage," Leyland said during his Tuesday pregame session at Oakland Coliseum. "It's no secret."

It wasn't that clear at times, given how many occasions in recent weeks he used the word "if" when talking about next season.

Leyland is finishing up a one-year contract he signed last August. When his contract wasn't extended at the same point this season, it became apparent that something was a factor, believed to be the Tigers' postseason status. His contract status has remained up in the air since.

Even if Leyland was safe from an organizational decision, there was some speculation he could step aside if the Tigers win the World Series, going out the same way his good friend Tony La Russa did last year after the Cardinals won it all.

At this point, Leyland appears committed to the year-to-year contracts La Russa signed in St. Louis until he stepped away.