NEWSLETTER
New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi spoke publicly today about the decision he faces as the season ends, and so does his contract with the Yankees.
His comments, which you can read here at ESPN New York, are relatively noncommittal, as he notes he hasn’t made up his mind yet (perhaps because he hasn’t yet had the opportunity to speak to other teams/TV opportunities). That said, he emphasizes the importance of family in the decision – Girardi has three young-ish kids and a wife – and says his family loves their life in New York. He also down-played his connection to Chicago, having not lived there since 2006. With a 14-year-old, an 11-year-old, and a 7-year-old (and plenty of time to return to managing down the road), it’s not at all difficult to see Girardi taking a short hiatus or a low-stress, lower-commitment TV gig.
All in all, there’s not a ton to take away from his comments. Given that, for our purposes, the job that would possibly be on the other end is still occupied, I can understand why he wouldn’t say much either way.
Girardi is under contract until November, but that’s probably not a significant issue. While the Yankees could simply keep him on lockdown until November 1, regardless of whether he’s returning, they’d not be wise to do so, given that they’re going to want to get a running start on their own managerial search if he leaves. Indeed it would be in the Yankees’ best interests to either lock Girardi up immediately (but, if that was going to happen, why hasn’t it already? The Yankees keep saying publicly they want to re-sign him, and if Girardi wasn’t weighing his options, you’d think he would have re-upped already), or let him talk to other teams relatively quickly.
So, however this plays out, I’d think the Girardi aspect will be resolved before the end of October. And, of course, none of this will matter if Dale Sveum is retained tomorrow.
