Yankees Make It Official: Joe Girardi Returning As Manager

The New York Yankees made it official today — Joe Girardi will be back in the dugout for the team in 2011.

The Yankees announced Friday that Girardi will return as manager through the 2013 season after agreeing to terms on a deal, worth $9 million, representing a pay raise from his previous contract.

The contract terms, which were confirmed by The Associated Press, also include bonuses of $500,000 per year if the Yankees win the World Series.

In his three seasons at the helm, Girardi has managed New York to a 287-199 record. Although he expressed bitter disappointment at this year’s ALCS exit, Girardi said he was looking forward to returning in 2011.

“I love being here. I’ve loved working here,” Girardi said. “It’s a great work environment, a great relationship with the front office and everyone involved, the players and coaches. So I want to be back.”

The next order of business for General Manager Brian Cashman will be replacing pitching coach Dave Eiland.

Joe Girardi and the New York Yankees have agreed to a three-year, $9 million contract to keep him on as Yankee manager, according to reports.

From ESPN:

According to both sources, agreement was reached “right away” between the club and Girardi, with many of the details agreed to at the first meeting between Girardi and general manager Brian Cashman on Tuesday afternoon.

“This was no major negotiation here,” one of the sources said. “The Yankees knew they wanted him back, and he knew he wanted to come back. It was a pretty cut-and-dried thing.”

According to both sources, Girardi’s deal calls for $3 million in salary per year, a figure that puts him among the top five highest-paid managers in the game. Also included is a bonus clause that escalates with each level of achievement, from winning the AL East to winning the World Series, and tops out at $500,000. His previous deal — three years for $7 million — included a similar bonus deal that topped out at $450,000.

“The only managers that are making more than him now are the guys who have been around forever,” one source said. “Guys like [Mike] Scioscia, [Tony] La Russa, [Jim] Leyland. That’s it.”

Girardi’s record in three seasons as Yankee manager is 287-199 (.591), with the 2009 world championship and a trip to the 2010 ALCS, where the Yankees lost in six games to the Texas Rangers, to his credit. Previously, he had won the manager of the year award as a rookie manager of the Florida Marlins, a tenure that ended stormily after a public dispute with ownership.

This is a good move for the Yankees. Despite some complaints that Girardi makes too many decisions based purely on statistics, he has done a good job in New York. Besides which, there are no logical candidates available who could have replaced him.

Hold the phone on that ‘Joe Girardi will agree to a new deal to manage the New York Yankees tonight’ talk. Sports Illustrated is reporting that Girardi and the Yankees will begin talks on Monday about a new three-year deal.

Girardi’s new deal is expected to pay him about $3 million a year, according to sources. Girardi makes significant off-field monies, including from Taco Bell.

Girardi’s first Yankees deal paid him about $7.5 million over three years. This one is expected to be for between $9 million and $10 million. Talks are not expected to take long.

Well, why would they take any time at all? It seems like the length and amount of the contract are already pretty well established. So, why wait until Monday? Just get it done.