The MilwaukeeBrewers have exercised the club option in manager Ron Roenicke'scontract, keeping him with the team through at least the 2016 season, the club announced Thursday.

Roenicke, 58, has been with the Brewers since 2011. It has been his only stop as a manager.

In Roenicke's first year with Milwaukee, the Brewers won a franchise-record 96 games. They won their first NLCentral title in 29 years but lost to the eventual World Series champion St. Louis Cardinals in the NLCS.

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There had been speculation the Brewers might fire Roenicke after the team's second-half collapse last season but the team announced in October that he would return in 2015.

The Brewers led the division by 6.5 games on July 1, and held the division lead for a total of 133 days. They were tied for the division lead on Aug. 31 but went 9-17 in September and finished eight games behind theCardinalsin the division.

The Kansas City Royals will fail to repeat last year's success

On SI Now, Sports Illustrated senior writer Tom Verducci discusses why he doesn't expect the Royals to be as successful as last season.

- Josh Sanchez

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Brewers excercise 2016 club option on manager Ron Roenicke