Jim Tracy wants to manage Rockies in 2013

Despite leading this year's incarnation of the Colorado Rockies to what will be the worst record in team history, Jim Tracy has announced that he wants to return as the team's manager in 2013, according to The Denver Post.

The Rockies, who find themselves in the cellar of the NL West and 13 games behind the third-place San Diego Padres on Sept. 27, are 61-94. They'll barely escape the season without hitting the dreaded 100-loss nadir. It's been a disappointing year to say the least.

In February, Rockies general manager Dan O'Dowd announced that the team and Tracy had a "handshake" agreement with the manager for an indefinite contract, saying via The Denver Post:

"To say it extends beyond 2013 would not do justice to Jim," O'Dowd said at the time. "It could be until he's using a cane and having trouble getting on the field. Quite honestly, it can be for whatever number of years Jim wants it to be for."

That "handshake" agreement means Tracy is owed $1.4 million to manage the club in 2013, and Thursday Tracy told The Post that he intends to honor that agreement.

"I have a contract to manage here in 2013," Tracy said before the Rockies played their final home game of the season against the Cubs. "I'm very hopeful of the fact, that as we go along over the course of the next week, that the conversation will take place and we will go from there."

Colorado will try to win its fourth game in a row as the Rockies take on the Chicago Cubs (59-96) on Thursday afternoon in their final home game of the 2012 season.