then and are now playing some of their best football of the

PHOENIX -- The Arizona Diamondbacks have extended the contracts of manager Kirk Gibson and general manager Kevin Towers. Contracts for both had been set to expire after the coming season. The team would not divulge the lengths of the contracts or even whether the lengths were the same for both. Team President Derrick Hall said after Mondays announcement that Gibson and Towers asked that the length of the deals be kept secret. "I dont understand why the contracts of people in management are public knowledge," Towers said. "Its between myself, Derrick, (managing general partner) Ken (Kendrick) and Gibby." Last October, the team declined to exercise options to extend both contracts, but Hall said he has felt all along that the Diamondbacks shouldnt go into the season with the two facing the last year of their deals. "Theres constant distraction and a labeling of whos on the hot seat," Hall said, "Are they feeling the pressure?" Besides, Hall said, "These are guys I have a lot of confidence in." In fact, Hall said he probably would have preferred to have the extensions in place sooner. He said that when the contracts werent extended last fall, it was with the understanding that there would be talks on a new deal for both. Gibson and Towers have had three full seasons together, and their most successful was their first. The Diamondbacks won 94 games in 2012 and took the NL West title before falling to Milwaukee in five games in the divisional playoffs. Arizona has gone 81-81 each of the past two seasons. "Im certainly very excited," Towers said, "as is Gibby. This is a place where we hope we get to spend the rest of our careers at." Gibson, a standout football player at Michigan State, played 17 seasons in the majors, 12 with the Detroit Tigers. He signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1988, earning the NL most valuable player award. In the playoffs that season, he hit one of the most memorable home runs in World Series history. Playing virtually on one leg because of a severe knee injury, Gibson hit a game-winning, two-run home run off Oaklands Dennis Eckersley in Game 1, limping around the bases and pumping his fist in triumph. The Dodgers went on to win the series. Gibson was hired as Arizonas bench coach in 2007 and was named interim manager when A.J. Hinch was fired on July 1, 2010. Towers, former GM of the San Diego Padres, came on board as general manager in September of that year, and one of his first decisions was whether to keep Gibson as manager. He did and the team went on to have that highly successful 2010 season. But the Diamondbacks stumbled the next two seasons in the vastly improved NL West, with pitching-rich San Francisco winning in 2012 and the just-plain-rich Dodgers taking it in 2013. Towers said he wants to develop "a ball club that not only has a chance to win the NL West but hopefully go deep into the post-season." "I dont take these things lightly," he said. "There are only 30 of these jobs." He said that the jobs "arent easy" and require the confidence of the clubs top executives and ownership. Towers said that going into the final year of a contract probably would have been more of a distraction for Gibson, given the high public profile of the managers job and his duties directing a teams day-to-day operation. Pitchers and catchers report for spring training at the Diamondbacks Scottsdale facility on Thursday. They are the first team to begin spring training because of Arizonas early season-opening two-game series against the Dodgers in Australia. Towers has said the team wants to acquire a No. 1 starter, but added on Monday "theres not too many of those guys out there." "The markets not the same as it was two months ago," he said. NMD Human Race Sverige . 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The Blue Jays lost to the New York Yankees 3-1 Tuesday night, their seventh defeat in 10 games. Rasmus was put on the 15-day DL on May 15 because of a sore right hamstring. Hes hitting .222 with nine home runs and 19 RBIs.Rangers boss Mark Warburton says he will be in no hurry to enter the transfer market despite the loss of influencial midfielder Niko Kranjcar. Kranjcar, who is in the best form of his Rangers career following his summer move from New York Cosmos, has been ruled out for six months with a cruciate knee ligament injury suffered in training.Midfield partner Joey Barton is now training with the U20s after having his club suspension lifted on Wednesday and, despite uncertainty over the former Burnley stars future at Ibrox, Warburton insists the players at his disposal could negate the need for a recruitment drive in January. Speaking exclusively to Sky Sports News HQ, the former Brentford manager said: There is a clear six-month rehabilitation Niko will go through now which is frustrating for everyone as he worked so hard to get to the level he is at now. Niko Kranjcar facing six months out with serious knee injury He was impacting games and you could see that quality in his performances. We were delighted with him and he was being rewarded for the hard work he was putting in. But the staff here will look after him, he will get the best treatment and we look forward to welcoming him back sooner rather than later.Warburton refused to be drawn on the Barton saga and was equally non-committal when asked if new faces were required to bolster the squad in the winter window. Joey Barton future unclear as he continues to train with Rangers U20s Well look if possible, he said. Obviously if it is right to get a suitable loanee in, hopefully from a Premier League club, if it is available to us.But if not theres strength in the squad. We have young Jordan Rossiter returning from injury, Matt Crooks getting nearer match fitness now as well so as I say give and take hopefully. Well miss Niko of course but there is some good young talent coming through the squad. Fit-again Jordan Rossiter is back to bolster Rangers squad Rangers take on Ross County live on Sky Sports this Sunday and Warburton expects a tough encounter against a quality side in Dingwall.dddddddddddd.County earned a point from a goalless draw at Ibrox in September but Warburton is convinced his side have improved since then and are now playing some of their best football of the season. Matt Crooks is nearing match fitness, according to boss Mark Warburton Ross County marked the start of the upturn in form we were looking for, he said. We created a lot of chances that day but didnt get the rewards, unfortunately. We know they are a very good side and some of their results of late havent reflected the quality of their performance.We know the quality they possess within their ranks, we know how well they are managed and there is no doubt it is a tough place to go to. But we are looking forward to it. Ross Co vs Rangers November 6, 2016, 11:30am Live on Get Sky Sports Get a Sky Sports pass We are in good form. From that Ross County game we have had one bad half of football - the second half against St Johnstone saw our standards dip - but other than that its been a very notable progression and we are pleased with that on the back of good win against Kilmarnock and we are looking forward to the weekend. Also See: Rangers video Rangers fixtures Rangers stats Sky Bet Club Get a ￡10 free bet! ' ' '