Manuel to stay as Mets manager

NEW YORK, Oct. 3 (UPI) -- The New York Mets announced Friday Jerry Manuel had agreed to a two-year contract as the team's manager.

Manuel took over as interim manager when the Mets fired Willie Randolph 69 games into the season.

New York had a 34-35 record when Manuel took the job and he guided the Mets into a 3 ½-game lead in the National League East with 17 contests remaining. A late-season slide, however, kept the Mets out of the playoffs.

Manuel, 54, spent six seasons as manager of the Chicago White Sox beginning in 1998.