Bud Black has led the Padres to the best record in the National League and the team showed its gratitude by giving the manager a contract extension through 2013 with club options for 2014 and 2015.

Bud Black gets contract exension.

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Padres' general manager Jed Hoyer says the Padres 54-37 record in 2010 was only one factor in choosing to keep Black in the dugout.

"I liked the way he ran spring training. I like the way we get along well in the off-season," Hoyer says. "He gives me advice. I feel like we've had our disagreements and got through them very easily. I like the coaching staff he put together and I like the way he deals with players."

Black was unavailable for comment as he was traveling with the team to Atlanta for a three-game series against the National League East-leading Braves.

"I told him at the beginning of the year that I wanted to wait and see how our relationship evolved," Hoyer says. "Once I got to the point where I was really comfortable with it, we started to negotiate and that was about a month ago. It's one of those things where you hate to make a guy wait too long before making that decision."

Black, 53, made his managerial debut with the Padres in 2007 after spending seven seasons as pitching coach with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

During parts of four seasons with San Diego, Black has led the club to a 281-297 (.486) record, including an 89-74 mark in 2007. The 89 wins were the most for San Diego since the club won a franchise-record 98 games in 1998.

Through 91 games this season, the Padres have the best pitching staff in Major League Baseball in terms of ERA and are the only team in the NL with a winning record on the road, at 24-18. Over the club's last 153 games, Black has led the Padres to a 91-62 record (.595).Now that the Padres have their manager locked up, Hoyer can focus on trying to improve the team before the July 31 trading deadline.

He said he has his sights set on two specific needs.

"We'd like to add another bat to lengthen out the lineup a little bit," Hoyer says. "Then we'd like to add a starting pitcher who can provide some innings. We have three very young pitchers (Mat Latos, Wade LeBlanc, Clayton Richard) in the rotation. We'd like to provide some depth there."

Hoyer said he doesn't expect anything to happen until right before the trade deadline. He also says he's notnot worried about changing the make-up of a Padres' clubhouse that has displayed positive camaraderie all season long.

"You can't be afraid to bring guys in because you are worried about disrupting something," Hoyer says. "Because in reality, there are always guys who go on the disabled list and there are always small transactions being made. So it's not like there are 25 guys together in one solid form since opening day. It's been a different group all along.

"But you have to be aware of it. You don't want to bring someone in that can rock the boat. But at the same time, you can't be afraid to make changes to make the team better."