The New York Yankees have announced that they have signed manager Joe Girardi to a new four-year contract that will take him through the 2017 season. Girardi will make $16 million for four years plus bonuses, likely based on postseason appearances. This puts much speculation to rest regarding possible external candidates for the Yankees skipper job which has been linked to Don Mattingly and Dusty Baker.
Joe Girardi has managed the Yankees since the 2008 season, leading the squad to one world championship in 2009 and a visit to the postseason in every year but two. Most recently, Girardi capped a long and injury plagued season with the Yankees who finished with 85 wins, which was more than experts predicted at the beginning of the season after injuries to Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez and Mark Teixeira. Joe Girardi has compiled a 564-408 record with the Yankees for a .580 winning percentage in six seasons.
Girardi had worked on two three-year deals in his last two contracts with the Yankees but the Yankees clearly think Joe is the best man for the job, as evidenced by the most recent four year contract with the manager. If the contract goes sour within the four year window the Yankees can always fire Joe and commence a search for a new manager. However, Girardi has always done the right thing in New York. He handles the media well and protects his players from negative press, preferring to deal with guys in private as opposed to firing shots at them in front of the media.
