The New York Mets rewarded manager Willie Randolph with a revised three-year contract worth $5.65 million US on Thursday.

Randolph was slated to make $700,000 US this season, but the new deal doubles his salary to $1.4 million US.

Willie Randolph, right, with Mets GM Omar Minaya on Nov. 4, 2004.
(Bill Kostroun/Associated Press)

"This should be about the players and the Mets," he said. "Fans should be excited, not be really concerned about my contract, my status.

"Respect to me is not dollars and cents, I don't think necessarily. I think the respect is that they feel like I'm the guy to move this organization forward." 

Randolph, 51, will pocket $2 million US in 2008 and $2.25 million US in 2009.

The Mets own a $2.5-million US option for 2010.

"If you are a manager in New York, you should get paid somewhat more than other markets," Mets general manager Omar Minaya said.

Mets win NL East

The Mets finished 97-65 under Randolph last season, tying them with the crosstown New York Yankees for the best record in the major leagues and ending the Atlanta Braves' remarkable run of 14 consecutive division titles.

After clinching the National League East, the Mets swept the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL Division Series, but lost in seven games to the eventual World Series champion St. Louis Cardinals in the NL Championship Series.

"I have tapped into our team and they've tapped somewhat into me," Randolph said. "Listen, we've got a long way to go.

"But I would have to say that I think we've come together a lot quicker than I thought we would've and I think that's because I've communicated and shown them the way. Now it's up to us to go all the way."

Randolph, a former second baseman, toiled 11 seasons as a coach for the Yankees until hired to manage the Mets, who inked him to a three-year, $1.875-million US pact on Nov. 4, 2004.

Randolph, a six-time all-star and six-time World Series champion, was a career .276 hitter with 54 home runs, 687 runs batted in, 1,239 runs scored and 271 steals in 2,202 games over 18 MLB seasons for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Yankees, Dodgers, Oakland Athletics, Milwaukee Brewers and Mets.

With files from the Associated Press