A Contract Extension for Lasorda : Baseball: The one-year deal worth $800,000 might be his last as manager.

VERO BEACH, Fla. â€”  In a move to quiet the growing unrest within Tom Lasorda and his clubhouse, Dodger President Peter O’Malley gave his manager what might be one last hurrah Tuesday by extending his contract through 1993.

Lasorda acknowledged that the one-year extension, worth $800,000, might be his last. It is his first one-year deal in more than a decade.

“I would have liked one more year, but what’s the difference?� he said after a news conference. “I’m getting up there in years, man. And I don’t want Bill Russell to become the mayor of Albuquerque.�

Many, including Lasorda, had wondered if he would receive any extension because he will be 65 when his current contract ends this season. The uncertainty had grown throughout spring training, particularly among players wondering if they were witnessing the end of an era that began in 1977.

“I think a lot of us thought this would be his last year,� infielder Lenny Harris said. “Doing his contract now, we won’t be distracted going into the season.�

Lasorda, although denying that he was thinking about it, has also shown signs of being distracted.

“This has been difficult for Tommy,� Harris said. “The expression on his face this spring has been like, he didn’t know if he was coming back.�

O’Malley ended this speculation Tuesday morning by scheduling a meeting that Lasorda assumed involved player evaluation.

“I go into his office thinking we are going to talk about a couple of guys, and he says, ‘Let’s talk about your future,’ � Lasorda said. “I told him, ‘Peter, I will do whatever you want me to do.’ �

Lasorda was given a 43% raise from his current salary of $575,000, which is the second year of a two-year deal.

O’Malley said there was no “magic� about choosing Tuesday for the renewal, but added that keeping the deal at one year was no accident.

“We all thought one year was the right way to go,� O’Malley said. “But, like I announced, it is for ‘at least’ one year. There has been nothing decided beyond that.�

When Lasorda thanked the Dodgers during the news conference, his eyes watered.

“Hopefully, God will spare me long enough to allow me to complete the 1993 season,� Lasorda said. “You are looking at, and listening to, the happiest man in the world.�

Lasorda is beginning his 43rd year in the Dodger organization, his 16th as manager. It is the longest tenure among active major league managers. It is the second-longest tenure among professional sports’ field bosses, behind the Miami Dolphins’ Don Shula, who has coached 22 consecutive seasons.

Lasorda needs 99 victories to equal Wilbert Robinson for second place on the Dodgers’ all-time managers’ list with 1,375.

“Tommy has been a member of the organization 43 years--where did anybody think he was going?� said Fred Claire, vice president. “Tommy is going to be a Dodger for his lifetime.�

Lasorda, who had repeatedly said he was not prepared to retire, might have been lured to one of the two expansion teams after this season if the Dodgers had not signed him.

“We believe Tommy can still motivate, he can still manage,� O’Malley said. “He is the right man for the job.�

O’Malley acknowledged that he did place one condition on Lasorda’s future employment.

“Tommy asked me, ‘Would you like for me to do anything different?’ � O’Malley said. “I said, ‘Yes, instead of throwing 60 minutes of batting practice, can you throw 40 minutes?’ �

Some members of the organization are concerned that Lasorda’s rigorous pregame workouts during the season leave him exhausted during games.

The players immediately noticed Lasorda’s changed demeanor Tuesday afternoon.

“I think this will make it easier for Tommy to relax,� outfielder Brett Butler said. “There is a chance he was preoccupied with this. Now all of us can only concentrate on baseball.�

Darryl Strawberry met Lasorda in a hallway and hugged him.

“This is great, Tommy is really good for the ballclub,� Strawberry said. “I’ve never had it as good with a manager as I have it now.

“Players may disagree with Tommy, but they don’t really complain, because they know how good he is for us.�

Russell’s chances of becoming a major league manager soon were diminished by Tuesday’s announcement. But the former Dodger coach, who will be a manager for the first time this season for triple-A Albuquerque, said he understands.

“It was a good move--as long as Tommy’s healthy, he will do a good job,� Russell said. “Now that he has a contract (for two more years), I guess I have a two-year contract, too.�