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 Torre
rejects return to Yankees
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[October 19, 2007]
TAMPA, Fla. (AP)
--
Joe Torre took a morning flight to Tampa, Fla., walked into
George Steinbrenner's office at Legends Field and listened to the
offer. He said he couldn't accept it, shook hands and left the
ballpark, the New York Yankees' manager no more.
After all he had accomplished -- four World Series titles, 12
straight years in the playoffs, almost certain entry into the Hall
of Fame -- and after all the indignities, this was one he wasn't
going to stand for.
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Torre walked away Thursday, turning down a $5 million, one-year
contract -- $2.5 million less than he made this season, when the
Yankees failed to make it past the first round of the playoffs for
the third straight year.
"A difficult day," general manager Brian Cashman said. "He will
always be a Yankee."
Bench coach Don Mattingly is the leading contender to replace Torre.
Yankees broadcaster Joe Girardi, the NL Manager of the Year with
Florida in 2006, is another top contender. Tony La Russa and Bobby
Valentine also could be considered.
Most Yankees fans could see this day coming.
After losing the first two playoff games to Cleveland, owner George
Steinbrenner said he didn't think Torre would be asked back if the
Yankees didn't advance. New York hasn't won it all since 2000.
The 67-year-old Torre, who made the playoffs in every year with the
Yankees, indicated last week that he might be interested in managing
elsewhere.
New York's offer included $3 million in bonuses if the Yankees
reached next year's World Series -- $1 million for each round reached
-- and an $8 million option for 2009 that would have become
guaranteed if New York won the AL pennant.
Torre just completed a $19.2 million, three-year contract. The
Chicago Cubs' Lou Piniella was the second-highest paid manager at
$3.5 million.
"Under this offer, he would continue to be the highest-paid manager
in major league baseball," team president Randy Levine said. "We
thought that we need to go to a performance-based model, having
nothing to do with Joe Torre's character, integrity or ability. We
just think it's important to motivate people."
It appeared to be an offer designed to be rejected. Scott Boras, the
agent for Yankees star Alex Rodriguez, said players would have
interpreted an acceptance by Torre as weakness.
"It is difficult, near impossible, to accept a salary cut," Boras
said. "Successful people can afford their principles. They
understand if they accept the position, there is a great risk the
message to all under him is dissatisfaction."
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Torre called Cashman on Tuesday and asked to meet with the
77-year-old Steinbrenner and the owners' sons, Hal and Hank, who
have taken an increased role in recent month. They spent an hour
together, and then Torre was gone.
Steinbrenner let his sons do the talking.
"The objective of the Yankees since the '20s has been to win the
championship every year, just as the objective of (Vince) Lombardi
with the Packers was or (Bill) Belichick and the Patriots," Hank
said. "None of us think we can win the championship every year, but
that's the goal. Period."
Torre led the Yankees to 10 AL East titles, but they haven't reached
the World Series since 2003.
With 2,067 regular-season wins, Torre is eighth on the career list
and was third among active managers behind the St. Louis Cardinals'
La Russa (2,375) and the Atlanta Braves' Bobby Cox (2,255). Torre's
four World Series titles are likely to earn him a place in the Hall
of Fame -- every manager with three or more has been inducted.
"Joe Torre is a great man, he is a legendary Yankee and a legendary
Yankee manager," Levine said, adding: "The goal of this franchise is
to win the World Series. All of us get up every day knowing that is
the goal, and all us take that responsibility on. Unfortunately we
have not met that goal for seven years."
Torre's was the longest uninterrupted term for a Yankees manager
since Casey Stengel held the job for 12 years from 1949-60. Stengel
was pushed out, too, let go exactly 47 years earlier after his team
lost a seven-game World Series to Pittsburgh.
Under Torre, the Yankees went 1,173-767. He trails only Joe McCarthy
(1,460) for wins among Yankees managers.
Torre's departure could factor into whether potential free agents
Mariano Rivera, Jorge Posada, Andy Pettitte and Rodriguez remain with
the Yankees.
"We certainly hope that they decide to come back," Cashman said. "At the
end of the day we consider them Yankees and they will have an
opportunity to remain part of the Yankees."
[Associated Press]
Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This
material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or
redistributed.
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