Yankees Resign Joe Girardi
ESPN – Joe Girardi has signed a four-year contract to return as the New York Yankees‘ manager, the team announced Wednesday. Girardi, whose previous deal was set to expire on Oct. 31, is scheduled to address reporters during a conference call at 4 p.m. ET. The Yankees did not disclose financial details of the contract, but a source told ESPNNewYork.com’s Andrew Marchand that the deal is worth $16 million and includes postseason bonuses. Girardi made $3 million this season. The deal came one day after Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner acknowledged that the team wanted Girardi back. An Illinois native, Girardi had been considered a top candidate for the Chicago Cubs‘ managerial vacancy. Girardi, who turns 49 later this month, managed the Yankees to an 85-77 record this season, his sixth with the team. It marked the second time in Girardi’s tenure that the Yankees did not reach the postseason.
I think a lot of people really thought there was a strong chance Girardi would end up coaching the Cubs. The Yankees are in as much of a “rebuilding” mode as the Yankees will ever be in. Girardi’s contract was up. Chicago was vacant. Just seemed like a natural breaking point for everyone involved if Binder Joe wanted to end up back in Chi Town. But at the same time I don’t think this surprised anybody. I think it was equally expected by many that he’d be back. Really one of those situations were anybody would have been surprised by either outcome. The Yankees have A LOT of work to do, wanted to lock in a manager before they started the free agent/off season process, and there’s really no other candidate better than Joe.
No way you can knock Girardi for the team missing the playoffs this season. I think he should actually be commended for the job he did. He dealt with a rash of injuries to major players just about as well as a manager possibly can. He rode the right horses at the right times and pieced together a wild card contender with a roster that had no business even sniffing the playoffs. He managed the delicate Arod situation as well as anybody can expect. Went to bat for him against Ryan Dempster and the umpires when he was blatantly drilled on purpose. Went nose to nose with Buck Showalter when he was making accusations against the Yankees. Girardi is still young, he’s hungry. Understands how to handle the New York media. Overanalyzes with that goddam binder of his but thats all you can really knock him for. He sure as fuck wasn’t the problem. No reason not to bring him back.