Girardi Staying in Pinstripes

09 Oct, 2013

Joe Girardi signed a four-year contract that could be worth up to $20 million Wednesday to stay with New York through 2017.

With the Yankees missing out on the playoffs this season for the second time in 19 years, the 48-year-old Girardi got an early start on determining his future. He went over several possible scenarios with his wife, Kim, and three children that included taking a year off, pursuing a broadcasting job or managing somewhere else. But they quickly came to the conclusion that six years in New York was not enough.

“It wasn’t ever a lot of thought that I might not possibly come back. I just had to make sure that everyone was still on board,” Girardi said on a conference call.

Girardi was in the final month of his second three-year contract (worth $9 million) with the Yankees since taking over for Joe Torre after the 2007 season, and he asked for a fourth year in the new deal.

The contract includes $16 million guaranteed and up to $4 million in bonuses, according to a person with knowledge of the agreement. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because financial details were not announced.

The pull of returning to his native Illinois to manage the Chicago Cubs, the team he grew up rooting for, did not factor greatly into his decision because once his family agreed he should manage it was set on New York.

“Chicago is special to me. And I think it’ll always be special to me,” Girardi said. “But this place is really special to me, too. Because of what I’ve experienced here. … And my kids and my wife are established in the community here. We just thought it was important to stay.”

In a 15-year career as a catcher, Girardi won three World Series titles with the Yankees from 1996-99. As manager, he has led New York to the playoffs in four of his six seasons, winning the World Series in 2009.

Under Girardi, the big-spending Yankees have gone a major league-best 564-408 (.580) since 2008.

AP

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