Cubs pick up Piniella's option for 2010

Lou Piniella the retiring type? Hardly.

Less than a week after speculation surfaced in New York that Piniella may retire as Cubs manager if they win the World Series, the Cubs on Tuesday picked up their club option on Piniella for the 2010 season.

Piniella, 65, signed a three-year, $10 million deal in the fall of 2006. The option year is worth $4 million.

"When Crane Kenney talked about a possible extension a few weeks ago, what they were talking about was picking up the option," Piniella said, referring to team chairman Kenney. "That's what they did. I'm thankful, and I look forward to a couple more years here."

In New York last week, Piniella said he planned to honor the 2009 portion of his contract but that he didn't want to be a "lifer." He reiterated that Tuesday as the Cubs worked out for tonight's Game 1 of the National League division series.

"I said that it's hard work, and I said I should be tired because I'm older," he said. "But I said as long as I had some passion and still enjoyed it, why not? We'll see. I do the best I can. That's all I can do. I do what's best for my players and for this organization. I take pride in the job that we do here. Two years is long term."

Piniella guided the Cubs to an 85-77 record last year and the NL Central title. This year, the Cubs cruised to a 97-64 record. For his career, Piniella has a win-loss record of 1,701-1,561.

General manager Jim Hendry indicated the decision was a no-brainer.

"I approached Crane about it awhile back," said Hendry, who also credited Tribune Co. CEO and president Sam Zell. "I told (Kenney) that's what we wanted to do. I'm grateful to him, and I'm also grateful to Sam Zell for allowing that to happen in the middle of the club being sold. My hat's off to him. That's something really that you wouldn't normally expect.

"Obviously, nobody doesn't want Lou. So it was really never an issue. We've proven that we're OK together. We like each other from a business and personal point of view. It's not a hard call for me at all. To get that approved under the circumstances, I'm very grateful to Mr. Zell for allowing that to happen. I think it's a positive to do right now and not wait until the end of the year and read about people getting extensions and things like that."

Hendry has until Dec. 30 to exercise his own option for next year, something he'll undoubtedly do.

The GM cited Piniella playing his whole roster and showing faith in the Cubs' younger players as two of his key attributes. The players say Piniella allows them to have fun.

"I think for me, it's respect, respect that he's won as a player, the fire that he had as a player and also the fact that he's won championships as a manager, as well," said infielder-outfielder Mark DeRosa. "He expects us at this level to get the fundamental things right. He expects us to play as a team and play hard. I think a lot of things that people don't see is he tries to take a lot of pressure off us as far as big picture. The pressure is not going out and playing in the playoffs. You should enjoy those moments."