CHICAGO — Manager Lou Piniella plans to stick with the Chicago Cubs for a while.

The Cubs picked up the option on Piniella's contract for 2010 today, a day before the NL Central champions open the playoffs against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The 65-year-old Piniella guided the Cubs to a 97-64 record, the best mark in the league.

Piniella signed a three-year, $10 million deal with a club option after the Cubs went 66-96 in 2006 under Dusty Baker.

Cubs general manager Jim Hendry announced the move as the Cubs worked out at Wrigley Field.

"We like each other from a business end and from a personal point-of-view, so it's not hard," Hendry said. "So it's a nice thing. Lou's happy about it. He's good to go."

The Cubs have gone 182-141 in two seasons under Piniella, winning consecutive division titles for the first time since 1906-08, which ended with the Cubs' last World Series title.

Piniella did not mention the option Tuesday when talking about the series against the Dodgers.

Some thought Piniella, who has 1,701 wins in his career, was hinting he would retire if the Cubs won it all when he recently said, "I don't know how much longer I want to do this."

But Hendry, who has grown close to Piniella, said he thinks Piniella could stick around past 2010.

"I've had a couple of conversations with him behind closed doors and he's never given me any indication that was true," said Hendry, who himself has to activate an option for 2009.

"It's a tough job, it's a grind, and he's 65 years old. Obviously he still has a passion to win and get after it every day. He definitely wants to do it. If it works out and it's longer than that, so be it, too."