Forget those Bobby Cox retirement-party plans. The Braves' skipper isn't ready to hang up his spikes.

Cox, 67, signed a one-year contract extension to manage the team through the 2009 season, ending speculation that he would retire after his 27th season as a major-league manager.

"I'm very happy to come back," said Cox, adding that he talked it over first with his family. He joked: "I've got a great wife; she gave me the OK. She wants the new furniture."

Cox said during spring training in 2007 that he was leaning toward retiring after the 2008 season, but since had amended that and said he would wait to decide and wanted to manage as long as he enjoyed it and had the energy.

Friday's announcement didn't surprise Braves players, who all seemed pleased by the news.

"I think he likes to talk about retiring, and then realizes what's he's talking about and comes to his senses," veteran pitcher Tom Glavine said, smiling. "Everybody knows how much he enjoys doing what he does and how much he enjoys being in the uniform."

Rookie pitcher Jair Jurrjens joked, "I think he's going to be here till I retire. It's great playing for him. He tries to make everybody have fun and doesn't put pressure on you. He just tries to get you to go out and give 100 percent, and you want to give 110 percent for a guy like that."

Glavine said Cox returning was, "Good for him and good for the organization. ... He's a big reason why guys who are here want to stay here, and guys who are potential free agents want to come here and play for him. He's a great recruiting card."

Frank Wren, in his first season as Braves general manager after seven years as John Schuerholz's assistant, first broached the subject of an extension with Cox in November, when he and Cox were on a flight to Arizona to see prospects in the fall league.

"It's assuring knowing you've got a guy who runs the game and manages players and people as well as he does," Wren said. "You're going to get the most out of the players you put on the club."

Cox ranks fourth all-time with 2,281 career wins and guided the Braves to 14 consecutive division titles before slipping to third-place finishes each of the past two seasons.

The Braves got off to a 5-9 start this season amid a flurry of injuries, but entering Friday had a league-best 21-12 record since April 17. They completed a four-game series sweep of the Mets on Thursday.

Veteran center fielder Mark Kotsay, who was traded to the Braves in December and is eligible for free agency after the 2008 season, echoed Glavine's assessment of Cox.

"I was excited to come here and have an opportunity to play for Bobby Cox," Kotsay said. "Everything that I'd heard and seen from being around the game all pointed to positives, and since I've been here, it's been even more that I expected.

"And if I was to continue playing here, it's a good feeling to know he's going to be here next year."

Cox said he signed a similar contract to the one has now, believed to be worth about $3 million. The salary ranks him behind four managers — Joe Torre, Lou Piniella, Dusty Baker, Tony La Russa.

Torre signed a three-year, $13.5 million deal with the Dodgers after turning down a $5 million contract offer to stay with the Yankees. Torre made $7.5 million with New York in 2007.