Manuel doesn't want contract to be a distraction

If the Phillies win 103 games this season, Charlie Manuel will become the winningest manager in franchise history.

But as of today, he does not have a contract beyond this season. Manuel told reporters today he is not surprised or disappointed that he and the Phillies have not agreed on a contract extension, but he emphasized that he does not want the situation to linger.

"I think that once the season starts, I don't want to talk about my contract," the Phillies manager said.

With the Phillies, or with the media?

"I'm going to call Pujols and ask him," Manuel said in reference to Cardinals slugger Albert Pujols, who has set a highly-publicized deadline after which he will no longer talk about a contract extension with St. Louis officials.

General manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said that, from his perspective, there was no hard deadline after which negotiations would cease.

"I would view it as a fluid process from out standpoint," Amaro said.

Manuel will reportedly earn in the neighborhood of $3 million this season, the final year of a deal that was extended after the Phillies won the World Series in 2008. Manuel has managed the Phillies since 2005, leading them to two World Series berths, a world title, and four straight National League East division titles.

Both sides have remained tight-lipped about the specifics of negotiations. Manuel and the Phillies have maintained throughout the offseason that an extension is a likelihood.

But the two sides were expected to have a deal in place by the start of spring training, and that did not come to fruition.

"Hopefully something happens in spring training," Manuel said. "That's kind of how I look at. My extension and my contract, I definitely don't want it to be a distraction for our team. I definitely put my team first. I think the players and how we play, that's why I get a contract. That's the whole purpose of me doing what I do."

Amaro declined to characterize the status of the negotiations.

"I'm not going to get into a discussion about Charlie's situation," Amaro said. "We've been working at it since December, and hopefully we'll get something done."

Manuel said he will not let the lack of future security bother him.

"I went through a situation a few years ago the same way, and every now and then you might think about something, but at the same time you stay focused on where you are going," he said. "You stay busy, and if you do your job right, then things will work out."

Manuel entered the 2007 season in the final year of a three-year contract. He did not sign an extension until after the Phillies rallied to win the National League East, overtaking the Mets on the final day of the regular season.

Last year, the Yankees declined to discuss an extension with manager Joe Girardi until after the season. He eventually signed a three-year, $9 million extension this offseason.

In six years with the Phillies, Manuel has compiled a 544-428 record. He should pass Danny Ozark's 594 victories for third place on the franchise's all-time win list this season.

Gene Mauch is in first place with 646 wins, followed by Harry Wright with 636.

Manuel's teams have never finished lower than second place in the NL East. The Phillies have won at least 90 games in three straight seasons, including a major league-high 97 in 2010.