Orioles, Buck Showalter nearing extension agreement

The Baltimore Orioles are nearing an agreement on a contract extension with manager Buck Showalter, reports Roch Kubatko of MASN:

Orioles owner Peter G. Angelos and Buck Showalter are meeting again today to discuss the manager's contract extension, and an announcement could be made early next week, according to an industry source...

The deal, covering multiple years, should be in place within a few days if everything goes according to plan.

After Showalter led the Orioles to their first playoff berth in 14 years, Baltimore has not been shy about their desire to lock up the experienced skipper. The Orioles and Showalter were first reported to be discussing a contract extension last month.

The two sides are reconvening today after going home for the holidays, and are expected to come to terms at some point this month, if not in the next few days. Showalter's current agreement with the club goes through the 2013 season.

The O's are 196-185 since Showalter took the reins in August 2010. A surprise success in 2012, Baltimore finished the season with a 93-69 win-loss record and defeated the Texas Rangers in the AL Wild Card game before falling to the Yankees in the ALDS.