Bryan Price agrees to one-year deal to return as Reds manager

CINCINNATI -- Bryan Price will return as the Cincinnati Reds manager next season.

The last-place team announced the decision Friday before playing the Chicago Cubs.

Price and the Reds agreed to a one-year contract with a team option. The entire coaching staff also has been offered contracts for 2017.

We've been talking about (a new contract) since the last home stand," Price said. "It just took some time working out the terms of the contract. There is a mutual desire to stay connected. For me, it's an unbelievable opportunity. It is a storied franchise. I have really enjoyed my coaches and my team."

The Reds entered Friday's game at 67-92, 34 1/2 games out of first in the NL Central. They set a v franchise record by using 32 pitchers and a major league record by allowing 253 home runs. The Reds went 32-57 before the All-Star break before improving to 35-35 in the second half.

"I couldn't be happier with the coaching staff and the way the players hung in there during a challenging season," Price said. "The fruits of that showed up certainly in the second half with a lot better win-loss record and a lot better statistical representation of our team."

Price joined the Reds as pitching coach in 2010 and was promoted to manager after the 2013 season, helping to oversee a rebuilding effort. His overall record is 207-276. The way he's handled the challenge was one reason he was rehired, team president and chief executive officer Bob Castellini said in a statement.

"Bryan has been here seven seasons now," Castellini said in the statement released by the team. "He's comfortable with the direction we are heading with our young players, and we are comfortable with him leading us in that direction."