Yankees manager Joe Girardi will be returning to the Bronx for three more years.
Everyone in New York and the MLB figured that Girardi would be back with the Yankees next year, but Friday’s announcement made it official. Even with the frustrating finish the Yanks had in the ALCS, Girardi has made a name for himself in New York.
Although critics have been criticizing his people skills after this season, Girardi seems to think that they are just looking to place the blame on him for their disappointing finish.
“I think any time you win, everything seems to be right, and any time you don’t win, then there’s going to be people that say this is the reason why,” Girardi told the New York Post. “I feel like, obviously, I had a better relationship with my players after I had some time with them because of the experiences that we went through. As far as digressing, I thought I was pretty much the same person. But we did not win this year, and whenever that happens, it seems to be a different tone.”
Girardi’s three-year contract is worth $9 million ($3 million per season) along with the opportunity for performance bonuses.
There was some talk about Girardi moving in on to the vacant Cubs managerial position after Lou Piniella stepped down, but Girardi wanted to return to the Yankees, who welcomed him with open arms.
