Torre turns down the Yankees

[spleen1015]

hxxp://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/baseball/mlb/10/18/torre.thursday/index.html?cnn=yes

Joe Torre turned down a deal to return as Yankees manager for a 13th season, club sources have indicated to SI.com.

It appeared the two sides were close to agreement on a one-year deal with an option for 2009. In a conference call, Yankees president Randy Levine said the club offered him a $5 million contract for 2008 with incentive clauses that could have increased the value to $8 million. The option for 2009 would have kicked in if they won the World Series.

"It's time for the Yankees to move forward," Levine said.

Torre arrived at Legends Field on Thursday for face-to-face talks with team officials. He traveled from New York with general manager Brian Cashman and chief operating officer Lonn Trost.

Yankees owner George Steinbrenner, sons Hal and Hank, and team president Randy Levine also were at the team's spring training complex. Torre's arrival first was reported by the New York Post.

"More meetings. We're working on it," Levine said earlier Thursday.

With nothing to announce on Torre, Cashman and Trost returned to New York on Wednesday evening. At the time, they gave no indication they would return the next day -- accompanied by the manager.

"We hold Joe Torre in the highest regard and, obviously, that's why we're taking the time ... to determine what's best for us as we move forward and whether he's a part of that or not," Cashman said Wednesday.

Cashman wouldn't give any timing for a final say on Torre, whose $19.2 million, three-year contract expires Oct. 31. He said that if the decision is made to keep Torre, "then there's a negotiation. ... And that takes time. It's as simple as that."

"As long as it takes," Cashman said, "So give it the time it needs."

While the team's top officials met in Florida, some fans signed a petition Wednesday at a "Save Joe Torre" rally near Times Square in New York.

[MikeVic]

Who would take his place? Mattingly?

[spleen1015]

Confirmation from the worldwide leader....

hxxp://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3069115

Good for you Joe.

[Lathum]

Torre can see the writing on the wall

[korme]

Sign Bob Boone!

[DaddyTorgo]

byebye Rivera...byebye Posada

[Critch]

How come there's never any mention of Cashman's job being at risk?

[Lathum]

byebye Rivera...byebye Posada

as a sox fan you should want the Yankees to keep these guys.

[Atocep]

How come there's never any mention of Cashman's job being at risk?

Steinbrenner has become rather soft in his age. In the past he would have fired everyone that worked at the ballpark. Now he backs off of his comments and offers a contract that the manager isn't going to accept rather than fire him.

[korme]

Posada had a pretty damn good contract year

[JPhillips]

I kept waiting for the line that said:

"And Dusty Baker died, today."

I look for that line in every news story.

[DaddyTorgo]

as a sox fan you should want the Yankees to keep these guys.

true. for wayyyyy too much money.

it was more a statement of fact.

[GreenMonster]

Buck Showalter till Donny Baseball is ready.

[miked]

What a shitty way to treat a guy who has helped keep your overstocked, overdrama franchise together for a dozen years. Offer a 1 year deal worth less money than he's making and only make it equivalent and a 2 year deal if he wins the World Series with the crappy pitching you bought for him.

[Lathum]

What a shitty way to treat a guy who has helped keep your overstocked, overdrama franchise together for a dozen years. Offer a 1 year deal worth less money than he's making and only make it equivalent and a 2 year deal if he wins the World Series with the crappy pitching you bought for him.

and your surprised because....

[Kodos]

Note to Steinbrenner: Go after Cam Cameron!

[cartman]

Note to Steinbrenner: Go after Cam Cameron!

I was thinking more along the lines of Nick Saban.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Who would take his place? Mattingly?

John Turturro

[bulletsponge]

ESPN seems in mourning. they will only have Jeter to circle-jerk around now

[lighthousekeeper]

John Turturro

lol!

[lighthousekeeper]

i grew up with Donnie b-ball as my idol. but now looking back, i just associate him with the yankees that could never make the playoffs. until his final year, he had that distinction of being with the yankees for that long string they didn't make the post-season.

the reason i mention this is because i'm afraid that if he becomes the manager, his curse will be resurrected and the yanks won't reach the post-season again.

[duckman]

I was thinking more along the lines of Nick Saban.
Nick Saban just announced that he is not interested in the Yankees managerial position.

[Crapshoot]

What a shitty way to treat a guy who has helped keep your overstocked, overdrama franchise together for a dozen years. Offer a 1 year deal worth less money than he's making and only make it equivalent and a 2 year deal if he wins the World Series with the crappy pitching you bought for him.

Meh - $5 million would have made him the highest paid manager in the game, by a factor of at least $1 million. Is there anyone who thinks Torre is the best manager in the game?

[MikeVic]

i grew up with Donnie b-ball as my idol. but now looking back, i just associate him with the yankees that could never make the playoffs. until his final year, he had that distinction of being with the yankees for that long string they didn't make the post-season.

the reason i mention this is because i'm afraid that if he becomes the manager, his curse will be resurrected and the yanks won't reach the post-season again.

Good, hire Mattingly! The Jays need a chance.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Nick Saban just announced that he is not interested in the Yankees managerial position.

Translation: His agent is furiously trying to find George's phone number.

[Klinglerware]

A face-saving resolution for everyone involved.

[molson]

Good for Joe. People forget what this organization was like before he came around.

They better find a guy that billionare players will respect. Otherwise, we could be headed to another glorious era of Yankee incompetence and disaray.

[Kodos]

Otherwise, we could be headed to another glorious era of Yankee incompetence and disaray.

One can only hope.

[Toddzilla]

What a bunch of attention whores. Usually MLB tells teams to put this shit off until after the WS, but after getting throttled in the playoffs they just had to keep their faces on the front of the sports page. Can't the Yankees just die and go away already?

[molson]

What a bunch of attention whores. Usually MLB tells teams to put this shit off until after the WS, but after getting throttled in the playoffs they just had to keep their faces on the front of the sports page. Can't the Yankees just die and go away already?

Wern't the Yankees criticized for dragging this out so long?

Manager firings typically happen immediately after a season to maximize opportunities for both team and ex-manager.

I agree that the Yankees should die and go away, but perhaps not for this.

[miked]

Meh - $5 million would have made him the highest paid manager in the game, by a factor of at least $1 million. Is there anyone who thinks Torre is the best manager in the game?

This is true, but it's a paycut and the only way to make it a multi-year deal was for him to win the WS. What other hall of fame managers get offered 1 deals with paycuts?

[molson]

I know "insult" is term that sounds funny when dealing with million dollar sports contracts, but if you were Torre, wouldn't quotes like this piss you off? He's basically saying that since Torre was making so much money, he wasn't really trying hard to win.

"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."

[Crim]

Nick Saban just announced that he is not interested in the Yankees managerial position.

gold.

[Crim]

I know "insult" is term that sounds funny when dealing with million dollar sports contracts, but if you were Torre, wouldn't quotes like this piss you off? He's basically saying that since Torre was making so much money, he wasn't really trying hard to win.

"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."

Yup, it's hard to read that any other way.

[lighthousekeeper]

maybe stump merrill's still available?

[JeeberD]

This thread just made my night... :D

[Ksyrup]

Good for Joe. I've never had a bad thought about the guy, despite my hatred of the Yankees. I'll be even happier about this if it turns out to be a bad move by the Yankees, but for Joe Torre, I'm happy for him.

This is now the second old-timer to give his a team a hardy "FUCK YOU!" in this situation, Marty Schottenheimer being the first. I think the lesson to be learned is...RESPECT THE MAN IN THE DEPENDS!

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Interesting managerial tussle is underway. Trey Hillman is one of the candidates being considered for the Yankees' job. Reports in KC indicate that the Royals are already in contract negotiations to hire Trey Hillman as the next Royals manager. With Hillman having Yankee roots, it'll be interesting to see whether he continues negotiating with the Royals or takes a look at what the Yankees have to offer.

A summary of his resume.........

http://nyyblog.wordpress.com/2007/10/09/2008-managerial-candidate-trey-hillman/

Since Joe Torre is without a contract and unlikely to return, it is time to profile some of the men whom the Yankees will look at, whom they could look at, whom they should look at, and whom they should not look at. Now we will look at Trey Hillman.

The resume: Managed in the minor leagues for the Yankees from 1990 to 2001. Won three Minor League Manager of the Year Awards while in the organization. Has managed the Nippon Ham Fighters since 2003 and won the Japan Series in 2006.

Strengths: Hillman cut his teeth in the Yankees organization. He understands the pressures associated with running the team. He has plenty of managerial experience and has won everywhere he has been. He has led teams through pressure games before and a straight laced personality that would set the professional demeanor that has been a trademark of the Yankees’ clubhouse through the years. He also plays no favorites, sending out the players giving him the best chance to win. He does this almost to a fault.

Weaknesses: Hillman has never been in the Majors as a player, a coach, or a manager. He has never dealt with Major League egos before. There have to be questions over how well he could run a clubhouse in the bigs.

Outlook: Hillman is a legitimate darkhorse candidate to land the job. The Yankees are familiar with him and know of his successful track record. He has decided to leave Japan so that his children can grow up in the United States. That means Hillman could be a candidate for a job on the coaching staff or in the minors even if he is not named manager.

My take: Trey Hillman will likely be the most obscure name on this list. He also might be the best manager. He would not be a sure thing to succeed in the Major Leagues, given his lack of Major League experience. Still, the fact that he has had success at levels as diverse as the American minor leagues and Japan displays his ability to adapt and thrive in any situation. The Yankees could do a lot worse than Trey Hillman. If they decide to go in a different direction, they should still try and find a way to bring him back into the organization. He would be an enormous asset.

[miami_fan]

Meh - $5 million would have made him the highest paid manager in the game, by a factor of at least $1 million. Is there anyone who thinks Torre is the best manager in the game?

The idea that he is not the best manager in the game is what makes the way the Yankees handle this whole thing so dumb IMO. The Yankees did not want Torre to manage the team next year. Fine. There were enough reasons the Yankees could have given to let him go without trying to embarrass (relatively speaking) him. If they would have came out and said "we are not bringing Joe back due to philosophical differences on how to use the bullpen”, could anyone really argue with them?

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

That didn't take long. Trey Hillman going to be announced as next Royals manager as soon as today..........

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3069833

Possible Torre successor expected to manage K.C.
By Buster Olney
ESPN The Magazine

Trey Hillman is expected to be named manager of the Kansas City Royals on Friday after some contract details are finalized. Hillman would have been among the candidates considered by the New York Yankees as they begin their search for a replacement for Joe Torre.

Hillman, 44, has managed the Nippon Ham Fighters in recent seasons after spending years as a manager within the Yankees' minor league system.

Nippon beat Bobby Valentine's Chiba Lotte Marines 6-2 Thursday to win the Pacific League championship series in Japan.

The Royals have been seeking a replacement for Buddy Bell, who announced in August he would step down as manager at season's end to spend more time with his family. Bell, 56, who was hired by the Royals in May 2005.

At the end of September, the Royals had announced Bell would join the front office as a senior adviser to general manager Dayton Moore. But Bell took a job with the Chicago White Sox on Oct. 9 to be the organization's director of minor league instruction.

Hillman has previously interviewed to be the manager of the Texas Rangers and the Oakland Athletics.

[Lathum]

press conference going on right now on espn

[miami_fan]

Is it possible for the Yankees to look worse than they are with this press conference?

[Galaxy]

Talk about media whores. The Yankees, not Torre.

[lighthousekeeper]

what the hell is a Ham Fighter?

[Shkspr]

what the hell is a Ham Fighter?

Think "Oscar Meyer Weiner Fighters". The Fighters are sponsored by Nippon Ham.

[rkmsuf]

didn't see the presser but what exactly is torre going to do then


I mean yeah, he's a yankee legend sure but is he really going to turn around or make a big difference in another team? maybe but to me he's not the man unless you talk in terms of the yankees.

[Swaggs]

It would be interesting if LaRussa and Torre switch places.

[MikeVic]

It would be interesting if LaRussa and Torre switch places.

Can we do this? Can we just force these teams to trade managers? I'd be interested to see how both of these guys do with the other team.

[Critch]

didn't see the presser but what exactly is torre going to do then

He's nearly 70 and he's from New York, so he must be due to move to Florida.

[Mike1409]

He's nearly 70 and he's from New York, so he must be due to move to Florida.

nice

The Rays should hire him so George can see him everyday, and the owners want the team to be the Yankees jr. anyways.

[Buccaneer]

Did I just read that Torre has replaced Little in LA?

[Young Drachma]

That's the word on the street.

[Young Drachma]

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/30/sports/baseball/30torre.html?ref=sports

[Crapshoot]

HAhaha. I bet they paid big money for him. I love the McCourts. :D

[GreenMonster]

Any chance Arod follows Torre to LA. They got the cash.

[Young Drachma]

Dodger Stadium isn't exactly a hitter's park.

[MrBug708]

It's not really a pitchers park anymore either....

Thank God the Little era is over

[MrBug708]

HAhaha. I bet they paid big money for him. I love the McCourts. :D

Aren't you a Giants fan? Why would you like Frank McCourt?

[Crapshoot]

Aren't you a Giants fan? Why would you like Frank McCourt?

Grady Little. Ned Colleti. More vets, less rooks. Why wouldn't I love Frank McCourt? :D

[MrBug708]

Grady Little. Ned Colleti. More vets, less rooks. Why wouldn't I love Frank McCourt? :D

Yes, Flanders was a mistake who caused Little, but the Giants are about the only team in the NL whose future isn't bright. You call it love, I call it envy..:)

[Arles]

Did I just read that Torre has replaced Little in LA?
If LA gives him a $200-million payroll, he should be able to make the wildcard and exit in the first round.

[Swaggs]

I think that Torre and the Dodgers one-upped the Yankees in the media, by hiring him on the same day that the Yanks had been building up hype to announcing their manager.

I find that very amusing for some reason.

[Young Drachma]

I think the move was brilliant from a PR standpoint. Not convinced Torre is that great a manager, but I love this move to upstage the Yankees.