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Torre’s tenure is over

12 seasons, 12 playoff appearances, 10 division titles, 6 pennants and 4 titles.

The Yankees offered Manager Joe Torre a one-year deal with a base salary of $5 million and the chance to make another $3 million in performance bonuses. But after 12 years and 12 postseason appearances (including four World Series titles), Torre turned it down.

“We respect his decision. We appreciate everything he’s done. But it is now time for the New York Yankees to move forward, and we will be doing it very quickly,” team President Randy Levine said.

General Manager Brian Cashman said that Torre’s successor has not been named, nor have potential candidates been formally identified. “I can promise you that the process is going to take some time,” Cashman said. “I ask for everyone’s patience as we review the individuals and make recommendations to ownership.”

Under the deal he was offered, Torre would have received a $1 million bonus for reaching the playoffs, another $1 million for reaching the American League Championship Series and $1 million if the team made the World Series. If he did lead the Yankees to the World Series in 2008, there would have been an $8 million option for the 2009 season.

This is a way for both sides to save face: the Yanks offer a very nice deal to a Hall of Fame manager instead of firing him, and Joe gets to decline the offer instead of coming back at a (possibly) reduced salary. This might have an impact on re-signing Posada, Arod, Mo and Pettitte, but I’m hoping Joe Girardi takes over the position. I know about the Marlins pitcher problems, but he did win Manager of the Year, has a rapport with many of the players, is young and intense, seemingly very knowledgeable (from his YES work), and knows what it’s like to play in New York.

 
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Comments
 

A nice deal ?

This was a 33% paycut for a guy who took a team that was in the cellar back in May thanks to injuries and bad pitching acquisitions by GM Brian Cashman, and got them into the playoffs and within 3 games of the AL East pennant.

After 12 years, 12 playoff appearances, 10 division titles, and 4 World Series victories, Torre deserved better.

Then again, it’s the Steinbrenner clan in charge, so it’s really the Yankee fans who deserve better.

Posted by Doug Mataconis | October 18, 2007 | 09:26 pm | Permalink
 

Gee?? Who was the manager when they were in last place? I guess the same guy who managed when they collapsed after being up 3-0 to the Sox a couple of years ago. Thatâ??s the guy who needed a pay cut.

Posted by jim | October 24, 2007 | 01:17 pm | Permalink
 

Pay cut or not, the Yankees offered the guy a contract that still made him THE HIGHEST PAID MANAGER IN ALL OF BASEBALL!!!! There had been 6 other managers win the World Series since the last time Torre won one, and he STILL would have been the highest paid manager in ALL of baseball. So, yes, it was a nice deal that the Yankees offered him. You can spin it any way you want, but if he could take the Yankees back to the world series, he would have been paid more than he was the year before.

Posted by Mike | October 31, 2007 | 10:29 am | Permalink
 

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