Cashman gets 3-year extension

Brian Cashman figures he has more work to do with the New York Yankees. After a sustained run of success, he wasn't about to leave on the heels of a failed season.

Cashman is staying on as general manager of the Yankees, agreeing yesterday to a three-year contract that runs through 2011.

"I've got a job to finish here," Cashman said in a statement. "That's the bottom line."

New York missed the playoffs this year for the first time since 1993. Cashman took over as GM in 1997 and his current deal was set to expire at the end of October.

He was expected to re-sign, especially after Yankees cochairman Hank Steinbrenner told Cashman earlier this season that the team wanted him back. But there had been rumblings that Cashman might be interested in running another club - perhaps one without such a vocal, hands-on ownership group.

"I consider coming off a season where we didn't reach the playoffs for the first time since 1993 as a personal challenge. I've never been one to run from a challenge, and I look forward to having the chance to go after this thing again," Cashman said. "It's an incredible opportunity and honor to hold the title of general manager for the New York Yankees. With it comes a great responsibility to ownership, the people who wear the uniform and our fan base."

He has plenty of work to do. Beset by injuries, a mediocre pitching staff, and a disappointing offense, New York (89-73) finished third in the American League East this season.

New York is expected to make a strong push for several stars who can become free agents, including ace lefthander CC Sabathia. First baseman Mark Teixeira and pitchers Ben Sheets, A.J. Burnett, and Derek Lowe could be targets, too. The Yankees have nearly $90 million in salaries coming off the books.

"Before we could move forward as an organization this offseason, we needed to come to a resolution on the person who would hold the important position of general manager and allow us to make another run at a 27th world championship," cochairmen Hank and Hal Steinbrenner said in a statement. "We are thrilled that Brian has accepted to renew his commitment to this organization for at least three more years."

A news conference was planned for this morning at Yankee Stadium.

Lee, Lidge honored

Indians lefthander Cliff Lee and Phillies closer Brad Lidge were chosen as baseball's Comeback Players of the Year.

Lee went 22-3 with an AL-leading 2.54 ERA. In 2007, he was 5-8 with a 6.29 ERA and was demoted to the minors.

Lidge was 41 for 41 in save opportunities in his first season with Philadelphia. In 2007, he converted just 19 of 27 chances for the Astros.

Report: Teams tipped on tests

Minor league teams received advance notice of drug tests this season, the New York Times reported on its website last night. In the story, four minor league managers, two team trainers, one GM, and one clubhouse attendant said a club official was called by a tester the day before drug testing was to be done at the ballpark. None of them told the paper that they knew of any instances when players were told about the tests ahead of time, which would have given them time to rid their system of drugs. The news comes less than a year after the Mitchell Report noted allegations of tipoffs received by major league teams. Commissioner Bud Selig eliminated the advance notice . . . Mets pitcher John Maine had surgery to remove a lesion from the back of his right shoulder socket. He will start rehabilitation immediately and is expected to be fully recovered in time for spring training. Maine missed the final five weeks of the season because of the shoulder problem.