New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi is coming off the heels of making an improbable run to the ALCS where he was one win away from moving on to the World Series.
Despite the success coming in a year in which the team wasn’t expected to challenge for the postseason, Girardi’s future with the team is uncertain as his four-year, $16 million contract expired after the Yankees’ Game 7 ALCS loss to the Houston Astros.
Girardi immediately got the rumor mill going after the loss as he told reporters that there are “no guarantees,” that he will be back next season managing the team if the Yankees offer him a new contract, adding that he will consult with his family before making a decision.
According to Joe McDonald of New York Sports Day, the organization is interested in bringing him, which would mean the ball is in his court…or catcher’s mitt in this case.
The 53-year-old Girardi has been the Yankees’ skipper for the past 10 seasons, the fifth-longest tenured manager in franchise history.
That’s quite an impressive feat considering the stress that comes with the position. Holding the Yankees’ managerial job is one of the most high-profile gigs in all of sports with every little move made ostracized and dissected by a fan base that spans the entire globe.
Even in good times, he was susceptible to the vitriol from Yankees fans. Most recently, he was booed at Yankee Stadium during roster introductions prior to Game 3 of the ALDS after he failed to challenge a controversial call the previous game against the Cleveland Indians.
Since his “no guarantees” comment after the ALCS, Girardi and the Yankees have fallen off the map when it comes to addressing his future with no updates provided.
There has been speculation swirling that the Washington Nationals might want to take a look at Girardi after parting ways with Dusty Baker. And while that job provides plenty of challenges of its own — like trying to win a playoff series for the first time in franchise history — a team in a smaller market might be more appealing to Girardi.
