The Reds on Friday announced that manager Bryce Price would return for the 2017 season. He's agreed to a one-year contract for 2017 that includes an option for 2018. As well, Price's entire coaching staff has been offered contracts to return next season.
"Three years ago we felt Bryan was the right person to help us move the organization forward, and our opinion of him hasn't changed," said president of baseball operations Walt Jocketty in a statement released by the team. "While we haven't produced the record we would have liked, we look at the youth of our team, particularly our pitching staff, and the unusually large number of injuries we've suffered over the last few years."
Price, 54, has been at the helm for going on three full seasons in Cincinnati. Over that span, he's guided the Reds to three losing campaigns and an overall record of 207-276 (.429). For much of that time, though, the Reds have been undertaking a rebuilding process, so Price generally speaking hasn't been working with competitive rosters.
This season, the Reds will wind up improving by a handful of games relative to 2015 while still having a reasonably firm hold on last place. No doubt, Reds brass will be looking to make strides in 2017, but that may be difficult in a highly competitive NL Central.
On Thursday night, Price was somewhat passively involved in the controversial and perhaps playoff-altering outcome in St. Louis.
