In what I think is quite shocking news, Joe Torre has decided to reject an offer from the New York Yankees to manage the club for 2008. The deal was a 1-year deal worth $5 million a year and a club option for 2009. It also included bonuses of $1 million dollars for each round of the postseason they won. The contract would have vested for 2009 if the Yankees made the World Series in 2008.
On Sunday October 7th, George Steinbrenner came out and said that Torre would be fired if the Yankees didn’t make the ALCS. The next day the Yankees were eliminated by the Cleveland Indians. It was thought that within a day or two that Torre would be fired.
Steinbrenner then decided to shift the power in the organization to his sons thus further delaying a decision. Before the weekend, the Yankees issued a statement that they would deciding Torre’s future next [this] week.
After meetings yesterday in Tampa, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman flew back to New York and said there was no news about Torre. Today, Cashman and Torre flew to Tampa, where Torre would eventually turn down the offer.
I am surprised but not so surprised at this. I am not at all surprised he turned it down given the way he’s been treated lately. I am surprised in that I really thought that he would stay at least one more year maybe two as the Yankees move into their new stadium in 2009.
The leading candidates to replace him are current bench coach Don Mattingly and former Yankees catcher and Marlins manager Joe Girardi. Could it go from one Joe to another or will it go to Donnie Baseball?
Only time will answer that question.
to Jason from My Baseball Bias for making me turn on my television to see what was going on.
