SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Manager Bud Black commemorated the first pitcher-catcher workout on Wednesday by announcing that he and the Rockies have reached a one-year contract extension through 2024. Financial terms were not announced.

The move was expected. Black, 65 -- who managed the team to the postseason in 2017 and '18 but has endured four sub-.500 seasons since -- and the club have a strong relationship. And the skipper wants to see the team return to contention. Black is 417-453 in six seasons as the Rockies manager, with last year’s 68-94 record standing as the club’s worst with him at the helm.

“We had an off-year last year, there’s no doubt about it,” Black said. “I’ve mentioned before that I do think we have the pieces to contend. We have players with talent that we can exceed expectations of not only what the noise you hear from the outside, but my own personal expectations of this group and also the players’ expectations.

“There’s talent there, but when games start and we play the 162, that will tell you how we play. But I do think we have players very capable of playing each and every single team.”

In late January, Rockies owner Dick Monfort said Black and general manager Bill Schmidt had begun talks toward an extension.

“I like Buddy,” Monfort said. “I like him a lot. I think he’s done a lot of great things for us. It’s sort of up to Buddy how long he wants to do this. He’s another guy that really is fond of the team, the city, the organization. I think he’d like to reap the rewards.”