After 12 seasons at the helm Joe Torre is out as manager of the New York Yankees. Torre who took the job prior to the 1996 season piloted the Bronx Bombers to 1,173 wins (second most in team history by a manager), 4 World Series 
championships, 6 American League pennants, 10 American League East titles and 12 playoff appearances in those 12 seasons.
Torre was offered a one-year contract for $5 million dollars with incentives of $1 million each for making the playoffs, making it to the ALCS and to the World Series.
Torre flew to Tampa with general manager Brian Cashman on Thursday for a meeting with the Yankee brass where he expressed his dissatisfaction with the offer and then officially turned it down. He said no other offer was made and after a 20 minute meeting Torre was no longer the manager.
Torre said he was never asked what it would take to bring him back after he rejected the offer and there was no negotiation involved. He added that he took the offer the Yankees made “as an insult”.
He says that even though he felt there was “a person or two” in the meeting who supported him he doesn’t think that the Steinbrenner family will reverse course and bring him back like they did in the past with Billy Martin.
“I don’t anticipate it happening because if someone wanted you to manage here, I’d be managing here” said Torre.
With humor and candor the 31st manager in Yankees history shut the door on a very impressive run not only in team history but also in baseball history by thanking his players, coaches, support staff and the fans. And what makes it all the more amazing is that is was done in this day and age of free agency and big salaries.
Torre wouldn’t mention a potential successor because he didn’t want to single any one or two people out nor does he want to jeopardize any chances they may have because he hasn’t been asked nor does he expect to be asked for his opinion.
Torre hasn’t ruled out managing again either saying as of now he is open to listen to offers. At some point he will probably manage again, it’s hard to believe no one would want the two time American League Manager of the Year and the guy with the most post season wins (76) in baseball history.
The Yankees have turned the page. It is going to be interesting to see how the players and fans react to the change.
The team has a big decision to make and replacing a guy who has done as much as Torre has with the Yankees isn’t going to be easy.
