Dodgers sign GM Colletti to extension

Sports Network | October 20, 2009

Los Angeles, CA (Sports Network) - The Los Angeles Dodgers announced Tuesday that general manager Ned Colletti, the architect of the two-time defending NL West champions, has agreed to a multi-year extension.

Colletti was hired to replace Paul DePodesta on November 16, 2005 and became the first GM in franchise history to reach the playoffs in three of his first four years.

"One of our core promises to our fans is championship caliber baseball, year in and year out," said Dodgers owner Frank McCourt. "Ned has been instrumental in our going a long way towards fulfilling that promise. I couldn't be happier for him, both personally and professionally. The stability and continuity that extending his contract provides will further help us achieve the goal of being a consistent winner and I'm thrilled that he will continue to lead our baseball operations into the future."

Under Colletti, the Dodgers captured consecutive division titles for the first time since 1977-78, and this year finished the regular season with the best record in the National League for the first time since 1983.

"My time here in Los Angeles has been very special to me and I'm honored to be associated with this tremendous franchise," Colletti said. "I'm very proud of what our baseball operations staff has accomplished over the last four years and I'm grateful for the support of the fans who have truly made me feel at home. I'm hopeful that we can bring them the championship they deserve in the very near future."

Unfortunately, those championship aspirations are on life support with Los Angeles staring at a three-games-to-one deficit in the NLCS following Monday's ninth-inning collapse against Philadelphia.

Prior to his stint with the Dodgers, Colletti spent 11 seasons with the San Francisco Giants, the last nine as assistant general manager. Before that, he worked in the media relations and baseball operations departments of the Chicago Cubs.