The San Diego Padres announced that the club has signed manager Bruce Bochy to a two-year contract extension prior to Wednesday's 6-4 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Bochy, now in his 11th season as the Padres' skipper, was in the final year of his existing deal with the club. The winningest manager in franchise history, Bochy has guided San Diego to a 40-32 record this season and a 4 1/2 game lead in the National League West Division. "I have always felt that Bruce is one of the best baseball minds in the business and we're pleased to have him lead our ballclub through at least 2007," said executive vice president and general manager Kevin Towers. Bochy took over as the Padres' manager in 1995 and led the team to the NL West title the following year, earning the NL's Manager of the Year award from both the Baseball Writers Association of America and the Sporting News that season. He again received the honor by the Sporting News in 1998 after guiding San Diego to the World Series. The 50-year-old Bochy has compiled an 821-853 overall record and has the second-longest current tenure of any manager with one club, behind only Atlanta's Bobby Cox. Bochy was a former catcher for the Padres as well and has spent 23 consecutive seasons with the club as a player, coach or manager.