On the Yankees beat

Great News!

Now we can take care of bringing back Mo, Jorge and A-Rod.

After that, it's up to Cash to find us a number one somewhere, whether it be Oswalt or Santana. Deal Wang if you have to

I can just hear the top of my boy Rick Keyes' head coming off right now! Sorry Rick, I think Kat's right, Torre is most likely staying.

Update: SI says the deal is almost done and is likely for 1 year.

WFAN says announcement should come within the hour.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/baseball/mlb/10/18/torre.thursday/index.html

Jim, and I'm also sure Torre isn't flying down there to reject a contract offer. You're right, Joe will be back.

Like I said in the other thread, at this point it's probably just a meeting to make sure he's on board with a new pitching coach, Donnie taking over after this contract runs out, and Joba in the rotation, and the A-Rod decision.

I believe the most significant development revealed by Cashman is that he now "answers" to Hank and Hal as well as George. So much for all the "power" Cashman was promised when he decided to stay as Yankee GM. Cashman has got to be wondering what his future is with the Yanks. The current Yankee hierachy, and the way they are conducting business, is nothing close to what was in place when he "signed on". Cashman's power\prominence has diminished appreciably.

Roy,

I'm going to put this as eloquently as I can. What in the name of Zeus' butthole are you talking about!?!?!

Brian Cashman is an employee of the New York Yankees who are owned by George Steinbrenner and his family. Of course Cashman has to answer to ANYONE named Steinbrenner. What Cashman did not want was a situation where baseball decisions were being made without his input.

And just what business has been conducted by Hank and Hal thus far? They had meetings - that's it - same type of meetings they've had every year.

Chip,

I agree. I believe the "power" Cashman negotiated for and received was the ability to make baseball decisions w/o the interference or any counter-moves being made in Tampa.

Although I don't know for sure, it's likely the Boss never ceded any authority when it came to Torre. At least they're having meetings and Steinbrenner isn't sending Clyde King to fire Yogi after 16 games.

Roy,
Whatever you are smoking, you need to stop. Nobody ever gave Cashman OWNERSHIP power, they just gave him more power than he had before. My gosh, you are a nut. For some reason I like you, even though I think you are stone cold crazy, maybe it's the fact that you are stubborn enough to not give up all the "quotation marks" or that you make up wild theories and stick to them like glue, I just don't know.

Chip,

I agree. I believe the "power" Cashman negotiated for and received was the ability to make baseball decisions w/o the interference or any counter-moves being made in Tampa. From what I've seen the past two years, looks like Cashman has a good amount of authority with regards to the baseball-side of things.

Although I don't know for sure, it's hightly unlikely the Boss ever conceded any authority when it came to deciding Torre's fate.

It could be worse. Remember Steinbrenner sending Clyde King to fire Yogi after 16 games?

I CANNOT WAIT FOR THE RICK KEYES REACTION!!

Sorry for the duplicate post everyone.

Crosetti - you're right. The bottom line is that Cashman, unless he owns the team, is going to have a voice in decision making, but not the final say. That (with any business) rests in the hands of the people who sign the checks.

Wasn't Zeus a god? Why would he need a butthole?

Phucker,
Those fireworks in Cleveland won't be from the stadium, they will from Rick's house! Call the fire department ahead of time because this could be ugly!
Then we can sit back and wait for the first Yankees loss of '08, when Rick jumps on the blog and says "I told you he sucks!'
High comedy for sure.

I believe Rick is sharpening his machette right now and booking a flight to Tampa on Orbitz

Nudge,

I assume that's where the term "Holy $hit" comes from.

Chip,
When I visited Rick over the summer I hid his machete's, so that may have slowed him down and given the Yanks time to put Joe T. in a safe house for a while.

Jim,

They're doing a conference call rather than a press conference - also smart so Rick doesn't smash his television.

Torre turned the deal down!

The nation is glad Joe is coming back for one more year with an option for 2009.

Now we know we have the division wrapped up for 2008 with him running the dugout!

GREAT NEWS!!

Chip,

Nah, Holy Sh*t is what they sell at a Vatican Yard Sale.

Holy crap, it sounded like a good deal...wow!

Torre is out! Rick is happy.

He got tired of all the nonsense on not winning the series or getting to the series as a failure.

Good for you Joe.

Now let's what happens with Mo, Posada and Pettitte.

Amazing how many longtime baseball people this organization can alienate, huh?

It took big b*lls to walk away. Good for him for turning them down, but damn....

WHAT THE F$%K!!!

Waite-
I think the Yanks will say to Mo, Posada and Andy that they tried to retain him and he wouldn't stay. This will get very interesting.

Too many unrealistic expectations.

Jim A,

I think that those guys will be able to see through the smoke screen on that.

It's amazing to me that you can take an employee who has done a good job for 12 seasons, and give him a paycut in a take-it-or-leave-it situation.

As much as I would LOVE to win the series every year, it's just not realistic.

This is crazy.

I'm very impressed with Joe on this.

The Yankees are not used to being turned down this is a big embarrassment for the new regime..

I guess that 10 days to allow Joe to twist in the wind was a brilliant move. Just as HYD was crowing about yesterday. Just like the decision NOT to negotiate with Mo and Jorge in season.

Mr. T behaves with his customary class and sang-froid, in contrast with almost everybody else in the shot. Hats off.

Wow, that's a stunning turn of events - I never thought in a million years he would walk away from the offer.

But I think everyone gets what they want in the end. The Yankees made the offer so they can't be accused of kicking him out the door, but at the same time they get to move on to a new manager and Torre for his part gets to save some face by not coming back in a role he didn't want. This seems EXACTLY like what happened with Buck 12 years ago. The Yankees offered him the option of returning, though many believed they didn't want him to, and for his part, he didn't.

And he TRAVELS TO TAMPA to do it in person.

Inimitable.

Jim - the fact that he's made several million dollars in the last decade helped ease his mind walking away I reckon.

Takes b@lls to walk away with no job if you have no money. If you just banked $7 mil in the last year it takes considerably fewer.

Diane!
I agree with you, hats off to Joe on this. The more I digest the offer, the more it appears as if this was an offer that the Yanks could easily eat if they wanted to fire him early next season.

I'm sad because I liked Joe, but I admire him more now than ever.

Lowball me? Good afternoon, gentlemen.

I feel sorry for the guy who's going to follow him.

Whoops. I take that back.

The Nation is now sad Joe will not be coming back.

Now you've secured last place with that move.

Does anybody know where Suzy Waldman is? She's going to have to be put on suicide watch with the updated news.

Oh my goodness gracious!

I heard the Boston is going to can Fran-coma and hire Torre.

Ninja!!

Great to see you!!

Joe is indeed the class in this ordeal and I to respect his decision.

Ps. Diane would it kill you to visit us more often.

The place hasn't been the same with out you...

And speaking of upstaging... will anyone even notice whether that game gets played tonight?

This news is shocking

Dont be surprised if he returns mid-season.

Makes me nervous about Jorgie and Mo.

Who manages now? I don't think Mattingly is ready

Chip,
It did take some b@lls to turn down a job he loved, in the city he loves because he will get criticized somewhere along the line as being greedy or some other disparaging remarks.

I agree with Waite, I feel sorry for his replacement.

The Nation,

She will have her 'goodness gracious" moment again when Mattingly gets the gig....but wouldn't that really be a slap if Donnie Baseball also turns them down in solidarity with Joe!

There will now be a "process" in place to hire the next manager.

I look for an announcement to be made by Feb. 14th.

My dear Archangel, I do drop by from time to time, -- and I must say you have not been setting attendance records yourself.

Michael Kay just said Joe Torre could be headed to Boston, If Francona either gets fired from his job or contract ends . Redsox Fans loves Joe Torre.. Your Thoughts?

Now they risk losing Posada, Mo, Pettitte and A-Rod. I would say that this will most likely cause Posada to leave for sure. Will the Yankees really offer Posada $42m over the next 3 years? They are really going to have to overpay to keep all of these guys now.

Joe's basically was getting a $1 million pay cut because you assume we make the post-season....and could make MORE than he did last year. Why the f*ck should we pay our manager, who we all agree has many flaws, $5million more than ANY other manager in the league? Get real....nothing wrong was done by the Yankees and if you believe for two seconds that Brian Cashman was not in contact with Joe Torre throughout the entire process,. Joe Torre wasn't left wondering what's going on, Cashman repeatedly said he had been in contact with Torre.

Who cares??? Time for change ... only problem is what Posada, Andy, Mo feel about JT getting a "take it or leave it offer" by Yanks. Arod? Another who cares. Don't let his BS "I've really grown to appreciate Joe" fool ya ... he's about the $$$, as is everyone else. Jorge and Mo will get solid offers from Yanks and realize that they don't want to be anywhere else. Andy is not going to toss $16 mill into the wind. The Donnie Baseball Era is about to begin!!!!!

Now Waite, don't be so optimistic.

Wow. Is it over? Is Torre going to try to negotiate a better deal? I'm disappointed, I do NOT blame the Yankees' early postseason exits on Torre. I think that the organization is making a big mistake in not working out a deal with him. I hope that Jeter doesn't get this kind of treatment when his stats start to slip...

Yankees Bri,

But doesn't this throw that whole ...if the Yankees want him back they will get him back....mentality into a tail spin?

Anonymous,

It may have not been a money issue that caused Joe to say Thanks, but no thanks. Even with the paycut and it coming to more money as you just said, I'm guessing here that Joe just got fed up with the expectations.
I've been wrong before though; many times!

Torre gives another clinic, this time in how to make an exit.

Watch and learn, major league baseball.

Good comeback, Nudge. LOL

Francona isn't going anywhere. Why get rid of Francona? It's not his fault that Dice-K and Wakes and Schilling got rocked by the Indians.

Not his fault that Buccholz was stupidly put on the shelf.

He's doing just fine.
Torre will be an AMAZING broadcaster next year.

Maybe the Dodgers manager in 2009

Diane,

I've been around.

I just take more breaks with so many "former regulars" now absent.

I'm still convinced Anthony may have been responsible for Lucy and RUse's disappearances.

HEY LARRY!!!!

A WORD TO THE WISE...

BRING A WEAPON!!

I fear for you Larry.

doesn't matter ... Yanks will ALWAYS spend more than anyone else (due to YES, new stadium, sold out games, merchandising, int'l brand recognition, etc.) that you can't conceivably see a "dry spell" for the next 10-15 years. Will we make the playoffs every year? Probably not but we'll always be in the mix. The Yanks will always be a 90 win + team. Now with the youth coming up, farm system back on the right track and a few well placed signings here or there, ANYONE can manage this team. ANYONE. Plus, for once, the bullpen arms of the best guys won't be duct taped on come October.

Good for you Joe! This drawn out ego fest now has come to a merciful end for you and the Yankee faithful. Allowing them to fly you in and make you an offer only to stick right up their butts! lmao , you deserved better treatment than that and I thank you for all the great years you gave us Yankee fans! I felt a change was needed but felt you deserved more dignity.

Jim A.,

That depends on who the replacement is. If it's Mattingly, you're talking about replacing Torre with a guy who is even more popular than Torre both with fans and players.

Nudge - it's true, there was arrogance in the thinking that if the Yankees wanted him back they would get him back - but the question is, given that the deal was a 1 year offer with a base salary cut - how much did they really want him back? If they Yankees really wanted him back THAT much they probably would have made him a 3 year $21 mil offer just like the one he was coming off of.

Since we're the "Evil Empire", somebody get George Vader's number.

Again I am going back to after the 1995 ALDS with this.

Steinbrenner and others did not necessarily want Buck Showalter back as manager. Buck was wildly popular (got the Yankees to the playoffs for the first time in over 10 years - all that) so they made him an offer to return in 1996 but threw in items like firing some of his assistants that he was close to, so Buck walked away. It's almost EXACTLY the same thing this time around.

Larry, don't let Michael stampede you. You'll be fine if you just line your Yankees cap with aluminum foil.

Yankee Bri,

1) How do you know how the next manager will manage the bullpen?

2) Where is the Farm system on the right track, Boston?

3) What has the youth proven?

4) Are you aware that most of the big market teams will have their own networks up and generating cash by 2009?

5) So what advantage does YES give again?

Chip,

You are right. The offer was set up to allow Joe to fail. Then they could take the easy path mid season. Problem was Joe had too much dignity to fall into that trap. So in the end the Yanks were too smart by half. I personally see Cashman all over this debacle. But he gets to stay.

If the Yankees really wanted Joe back, they would have given him a pay raise, not a pay cut. They can certainly afford to pay him a lot more. The bottom line is that it's time for a change and time to move on for Joe and the Yankees. Suck it up and get over it. It's called Life.

Why are Red Sox fans even on here debating this with us? Don't they have some other things to worry about like say, getting beat tonight in Cleveland?

They should be on Sox boards screaming why Ellsbury isn't starting over Crisp.
Or Drew for that matter.

Red Sox fans are more interested in the Yankees right now than the Red Sox. Joe's leaving will get more attention than the Sox's elimination tonight. Bet on it.

Agreed Anonymous.

Nudge:

1) With Dusty Baker in Cincy and Willie Randolph signed with the Mets there is no way the next manager can handle a bullpen WORSE than Torre did

2) I know you're not a Yankee fan but you can't argue right now with the fact that the Yankees' farm system is producing quality players that are helping on the major league level - well you can but you would lose credibility if you did.

3) It has proven that it is good enough to stick with

4 & 5) Yankees are a cash cow on a different financial level than every other team in baseball. Angels, Mets, Red Sox, Dodgers, Cubs, ChiSox - they are all very strong franchises but in terms of profits and overall worth - no contest.

Nudge why will you never grant us our established successes?

From all reports our Farm System is one of the best in baseball.

Those reports are not all just the work of Yankee Homers.

You're speaking nonsense just to antagonize.

Why?

Nudge is blind and dumb when it comes to the Yankees (among other things). Ignore the loser.

Our girl Kat is on the air getting "The Scoop" from Cashman.

Nudge -

This isn't Cashman. There are too many similarities to how this was handled and how Buck was handled in 1995 (3 years before Cashman was GM). This is a classic Steinbrenner move.

And for the record, I'm not totally against it. If the Yankees want to move in a different direction, more power to them. I have been saying for a while that I didn't think a change was necessarily a bad thing.

There will be a lot of criticism on whomever replaces Torre (unless it's Mattingly) but remember all the Clueless Joe headlines in 1996.

Funny. On ESPN they keep saying, Now we will return to the ballpark where the ALCS championship is being held -- and you would think they're going to talk about the Sox or Indians. But who do they talk about? TORRE, of course. Great timing for this news.

Wow! Good for you Joe. See you in Cooperstown. Or in Flushing?

Nudge,

It takes time for the system to develop talent. You know that. Since 2005, the Yanks have brought up some kids that have contributed on the major league level.

Red Sox fans know they're done so that's why they're wasting time on Yankee board.

Nudge ... read on and learn:

1) it's common sense that you can't rely on 2 or 3 guys all season long and rack up their appearances to the tune of 75+ per year. No wonder when JT went to any top guys in the playoffs they were burnt out. You need your entire bullpen all year and then rely on the top guys in the playoffs (check out the Indians and what they did this year)
2) Yanks farm system is currently ranked 5th by Baseball America (up from 27th 3 years back) ... that's heading in the right direction
3) youth proves that you can win if you cultivate it properly ... remember a few guys name Jeter, Rivera, Williams, Pettite, Posada back in '96??? The whole Rockies team this year is home grown ... Indians too.
4) who cares who else has a regional network? the Yanks have YES so the coffers will always be full. You only need an owner willing to spend the dough and not "pie hole" it like the Twins owner.
5) $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Chip,

I again have to bring you Yankee fans down to earth about this incredible youth you seem to think you have. You auditioned 100 starting pitchers and got in the end 1 7-5 pitcher that is a keeper.

You auditioned it seems the same number of bullpen pitchers and got 1 excellent pitcher.....who you dont want in the bullpen.

Who is now in the farm system that is within 3 years of making the big club?

If Jorge, A-rod and Mo all leave what Farm players take thier slots?

Who plays 1B next year?

Who play the corner outfiield spot in 2009?

There are no youth solutions to any of these holes. So tell me again about the revamped farm system.

Hey Guys,

I believed Joe T. would be offered a 2 year gig of about 4/5 million. In my mind this was a fair contract even if it was a paycut. It offered a job that Joe coveted and made him a choice for H of F as a mgr. but it was not to be. what organization will offer more and provide Joe with an oppt. to manage a contending team.

Its time to move on and understand that the mgr. does influence a team performance with his skills and decisions. There is one major consideration. The mgr. does not get between the white lines. How much influence is Francona having because his team is down in the series. Is it his fault. How much influence is Wedge having that the Indians are up 3-1.

Walter Alston took a series of one year contracts every year, win or loss. I believed Joe errored with his refusal. The little guy in the street who pays the high ticket prices may have a hard time swallowing Joe's refusal.

Nudge you knucklehead ... the Yanks are not re-building!!! They will plug in FA's when needed and nurture talent along. Go away already.

Yankee Bri,

What I learned is that you didn't read nor answer the questions.

Nudge - I can't argue with you except to say "we will see." A rotation next year of Pettitte (assuming he returns) Wang, Hughes, Chamberlain, and Kennedy could be fantastic or terrible - that's why they play.

As for 1b - I don't know, could be Doug M./Andy Phillips platoon, could be Juan Miranda

Really not worried about 2009 just yet but if I had to call it now, I would say the outfield then could be Austin Jackson, Jose Tabata, Melky Cabrera - but that's over a year from now so who knows.

If Jorge, Mo, A-Rod leave they will find people to replace them, likely not people as good - but you never know. Yankees had Jorge, Mo, and A-Rod for these last few years and ended up out in the first round with them right?

Must go, but Waite --

I think you're right, it's not just money for Joe.

He's been reading his e.e.cummings:

you know the one...

"there is some s**t I will not eat"

(poets get to use language that the blogosphere doesn't permit)

Nudge -

Again, you believe the majority of us on this board are biased because we're Yankee fans, and you're right, we are. Just as you are biased in that you dislike the Yankees. Somewhere in between is objectivity.

Yankee Bri,

Look at your teams contracts and age. By 2009 the Yankees need to replace 4 starters, entire bullpen, 3B 1B, at least 2 OF spots. Thats 13 positions and cannot be addressed through free agency, especially when they have not made particularly good free agent decisions the past 7 years.

So who is the knucklehead again. I know your team better than you do.

bring in bobby valentine, then he can put on a disguise and pretend he is joe torre, lol

Chip,

You correct in that next years staff can go one way or the other. But most posters here seem to have three unproven rookies penned in for 17-20 wins each because they heard good things. Only time will tell. If one of three makes it that would be good odds. Expecting all three is blind faith territory.

BTW there is no shame in hometeam bias. I don't expect it to not exist, but I can challange it.

Nudge:

You're right, that's a lot of replacing to do in 2 years, but between FA and player development and inevitable trades - I'm pretty sure the Yankees will be just fine.

Keep in mind that in 2009 when the Yankees open the new ball park they will enter a period when they do not have to participate in Revenue Sharing (as will the Mets) which will dramatically alter the way other teams can do business.

Nudge, send me some of the stuff you're smoking cause I need it ...

4 starters by 2009??? I guess Hughes, Chamberlin and Wang won't be pitching in 2 years? And if the Yanks don't go the FA route at all(which they will to tab at least 1 starter)you still have Kennedy, Horne and Sanchez. The OF will be Melky, Tabata or Jackson and a FA. 3B hopefully Arod. 1B Miranda or a FA. Bullpen will formulate like everyone's ... some signings, some homegrown talent and some Jap imports.