The Pittsburgh Pirates and manager Clint Hurdle have agreed on a contract extension, FanRag Sports has confirmed. Bill Brink of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette was the first to report on the news, also noting it would be a four-year extension.

Hurdle has been the head man in charge for Pittsburgh since the 2011 season, overseeing the rebirth of the black and yellow as a postseason contender. Prior to his arrival, the last time the Pirates had finished a season above .500 came back in 1992. Before Hurdle took over, the last time the team won even 72 games (his first season total) was 2004.

The stretch without a playoff berth came to an end in 2013 when Hurdle took the Bucs to the playoffs for the first of what would be three consecutive seasons.

This season, Pittsburgh has fought its way back into contention, but faded as the year has come to a close. Entering play on Monday, the Pirates sat at 65-72 overall, in danger of finishing below .500 for the second straight year.

Prior to his tenure at the helm in Pittsburgh, Hurdle was the manager for the Colorado Rockies from 2002-09. He helped lead the Rockies to the 2007 World Series, where they were ultimately defeated by the Boston Red Sox. He previously had served as hitting coach of the Rockies, in addition to a one-year stint with the Texas Rangers where he served in the same role in 2010.

A former player in his heyday, Hurdle was the ninth overall pick in the 1975 MLB Amateur Draft by the Kansas City Royals. He would have a decade-long career, but finished as just a .259 career hitter with 32 home runs to his credit.