ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon has been rewarded for leading the Rays to the World Series last season, receiving a three-year contract extension that runs through 2012.

Maddon is in his fourth season with the American League champions, who posted a winning record for the first time in 2008. He was named AL manager of the year after leading the team to 97 regular season wins, a 31-game turnaround from the previous year.

Tampa Bay started Monday with a 23-23 record, four games behind first-place Boston in the AL East.