Tampa Bay Devil Rays manager Lou Piniella will not return for the 2006 season after reaching a mutual agreement with the club Friday to forgo the final year of his contract. Piniella is closing out the third season of a four-year contract and will be able to seek other opportunities following the conclusion of the 2005 campaign. The Devil Rays will finish the season against Baltimore on Sunday. "It is evident by the team's play in the second half of the season that this club is moving in the right direction," Piniella said. "Even though I will not be a part of it next year, Rays fans should look forward to the team's continued success." No potential candidates for a new manager in 2006 have been announced. The Tampa Tribune reported last week that Piniella would accept a $2.2 million buyout of the remaining $4.4 million he was to receive in 2006. The newspaper also noted the Devil Rays would pay Piniella $1.25 million in deferred salary from the 2003 season. Piniella, who was named skipper of the Devil Rays on October 28, 2002, made significant improvements in guiding the team to its first 70-win season in franchise history in 2004. The club was a dismal 28-61 at this year's All-Star break, but has since posted a record of 39-31 heading into this weekend's final series with Baltimore. The Devil Rays are 67-92 entering Friday's play and have lost at least 90 games each season since the club's inception in 1998, but they have had a dramatic impact on the American League pennant races. Tampa Bay captured the season series against the New York Yankees this year, winning 11 of the 19 meetings, and played well in September against playoff contenders Boston and Cleveland. The Rays took two of three games against each team in the past two weeks. "With this core group of young players and other promising talent coming up through the minors, the future is bright for the Devil Rays," Piniella added. The team's payroll was just under $30 million last year and the Devil Rays finished out of the basement in the AL East for the first time in franchise history. This year, Tampa Bay is assured of finishing in last place in the division. The 62-year-old Piniella pushed for an increase in payroll to be competitive this season, but instead was rebuffed and Rays partner Stuart Sternberg, the new part-owner of the club, has been the butt of criticism. Piniella isn't used to losing. In fact, before he came to Tampa, he had three consecutive 90-plus win seasons in Seattle. Piniella's agent, Alan Nero, helped to negotiate his client's move. "Lou is a great baseball man and friend. The Tampa Bay Devil Rays thank him for his service to the team and wish him well in his future endeavors," managing general partner Vince Naimoli said in a release. During his career, Piniella has compiled a 1,519 - 1,417 record with the Yankees, Reds, Mariners and Devil Rays. He guided Cincinnati to the World Series title in 1990 and had managed for 10 seasons in Seattle until agreeing to come to his hometown in Tampa.