The Cleveland Indians named Manny Acta as the
team's new manager Sunday, signing him to a three-year contract with a club
option for 2013.
The former Nationals manager was selected over former Mets manager Bobby
Valentine and Indians minor league manager Torey Lovullo. Acta will become the
40th manager in team history.
Acta compiled a 158-252 record with the Nationals in two-plus seasons, having
been hired by the club in 2007. At the time of his dismissal on July 13 of
this season, Washington was a league-worst 26-61.
The 40-year-old Acta never reached the majors in his playing career, but did
play six seasons of minor league baseball in the Astros organization, where he
had been a candidate for their current managerial opening. Acta had served as
a coach with both the Expos and Mets before landing the job with the
Nationals.
The hiring of Acta was made possible after the Indians fired Eric Wedge
following a 65-97 campaign in 2009 -- the worst season of Wedge's seven-year
tenure with the club. Wedge led the team to only one playoff appearance in his
time with the Indians and had the team one win away from the World Series in
2007 before squandering a 3-1 ALCS lead to the Red Sox.
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