Buster Olney reports that Joe Girardi has agreed to terms with the Yankees to become the team’s next manager. The former catcher will receive a 3 year contract worth $7.5 million.
This is an exciting day for this franchise. Girardi is a talented young manager. He does come with some baggage and other questions about his philosophies, but I am confident that he will learn from his mistakes with the Marlins and become a better manager because of them. Joe understands the New York media and will work well with it. Some might question how his fiery and demanding attitude will play in a veteran clubhouse, but he will probably mellow a bit. With the Marlins, he had to be overbearing because the team he was leading was so young. He had to teach them how to play and conduct themselves in the Majors, which at times led to him being too demanding. He will not have to be that way with the Yankees.
I will not repeat any of my other thoughts on this hire for the time being. I said most of what I had to say in my profile of Joe a few weeks back.
