St. Louis Cardinals give general manager John Mozeliak two-year extension

John Mozeliak was named Executive of the Year by MLB.com in 2011. (Leon Halip/Getty Images) John Mozeliak, who's been with the Cardinals for 19 years,

John Mozeliak was named Executive of the Year by MLB.com in 2011. (Leon Halip/Getty Images)

John Mozeliak, who's been with the Cardinals for 19 years, including six as a GM, signed a two-year extension that will keep him with the club through 2018, the team announced before Saturday's home win over the Cubs.

During the 45-year-old's tenure as general manager, the Cardinals have four postseason appearances, including two National League pennants and a World Series victory in 2011.

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"I was obviously very excited," Mozeliak said. "This is my home. I've been with the Cardinals now going on 19 years and this is what I know. And to be working with Bill and this organization for the next four to five years makes me feel good.

"I think what we've been able to accomplish here is something we take pride in, but we also know that every year is a new year. Every year has new challenges. I think that's the exciting part of working with this group. It's not looking back, it's looking forward and I think that says a lot about this organization."

The Cardinals were named the organization of the year in 2011 and 2013 by Baseball America. St. Louis has finished with a losing record only once since 2000 (78-84 in 1997) and has made the postseason four of the last five seasons.

"Given where we are and how the organization's doing, it was appropriate for us to do it," said Cardinals chairman Bill DeWitt. "It was pretty hectic during spring training and the first part of the season, so we felt it was appropriate to do it now.

"We really didn't have a lot of discussions. I met with him when we opened the season in Cincinnati. I talked to him about it at that time and we did it pretty quickly."

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