It won’t be completely official until the press conference, but it looks like the Yankees have a new manager:
Joe Girardi, rebuffing last-minute attempts by the Dodgers to become their manager, has agreed to succeed Joe Torre as Yankees manager.
And, in a major twist, Torre may switch from the Yankees to the Dodgers. Now that Girardi is off the market, people close to the situation say the Dodgers will put a full-court press on Torre and expect him to accept the job.
People inside the Yankees organization are re-energized by the appointment of Girardi after suffering a difficult blow when Alex Rodriguez opted out of his $252 million Yankees contract.
An announcement regarding Girardi’s hiring could come today.
I find it hard to get excited about this.
Update: Well, it’s official:
NEW YORK — Joe Girardi’s return from the broadcast booth to the dugout is complete, as the former catcher officially became the 32nd manager of the New York Yankees on Tuesday.
Girardi, 43, finalized terms on a three-year contract that extends through the 2010 season, succeeding Joe Torre. After remaining close to the organization by spending the 2007 season as a broadcaster with the YES Network, Girardi now trades his microphone for a lineup card, becoming the 17th former Yankee to manage the club.
Good luck Joe. Somehow, I think you’re going to need it.
