Brewers give Yost a reward

The Milwaukee Brewers extended the contract of manager Ned Yost through 2008, rewarding him for the team's first non-losing season since 1992.

The Brewers finished 81-81 in 2005, Yost's third season with the club. His contract includes a club option for 2009.

General manager Doug Melvin said Yost is the person to lead the Brewers to postseason play.

''His work ethic, leadership skills, and passion for the Brewers fans confirmed to us that this was the right thing to do," Melvin said.

The Brewers originally signed Yost to a two-year contract, then extended it to 2005 and exercised a club option for 2006.

Mets ace Pedro Martínez took another step in rehabilitating his sore right toe, throwing from a slope about a foot in front of the pitcher's mound. Martínez threw 32 pitches and appeared to throw smoothly, although without his typical speed and power. It was the first time Martínez had stepped on a mound since September . . . Mariano Rivera hasn't ruled out pitching beyond his current contract. The 36-year-old Yankees closer is in the final season of a $21 million, two-year extension. He has a $10.5 million option for 2007. ''We'll see what happens," Rivera said. ''Hopefully this year I'll do a good job. I don't want to go ahead." . . . Pirates righthander Kip Wells, who has been complaining of a fatigued pitching arm, was examined by St. Louis vascular surgeon Robert Thomas, who specializes in blood clots. Pittsburgh GM Dave Littlefield called the move ''a precautionary measure." . . . Nationals pitcher Brian Lawrence has a torn labrum in his right shoulder and will be out until the All-Star break. The tear was diagnosed after an MRI.