It’s hard to believe that 2017 will mark Joe Girardi‘s 10th year as manager of the Yankees. The 52-year-old has compiled a 819-639 record since 2008, which includes a World Series championship and three ALCS appearances.
2017 is also the last year of Girardi’s four-year, $16 million deal. A storyline that will develop over the course of the long season will be whether or not the Yankees bring back their skipper for ’18 and beyond, along with GM Brian Cashman who is also in the final year of his contract.
So, does Girardi himself want to continue his run in the Bronx?
“I do. I don’t envision myself doing anything different,” Girardi said Tuesday morning during his first press conference of the spring. “Maybe that is why I don’t think much about it. This is what I know. This is what I’ve known for a long time.”
Although the Yankees haven’t experienced a lot of success over the last several years, Girardi has still done a good job with utilizing the pieces he’s given; he’s averaged 85 wins since since 2013 with what many consider to be subpar teams.
The Yankees have a general policy about not handing out contract extensions before a current deal is up. Girardi, however, isn’t going to let that affect him as he goes through the ’17 campaign.
“It doesn’t really impact me,” Girardi said. “I’m going to do my job the same way, in a way that I believe is the right way to do it. I won’t seek any clarity. They have not extended managers, as far I can remember, during the course of a season so I’ll just go do my job and whatever happens, happens. I’m a faithful man and I believe God is going to put me where he wants to anyway.”
With the youth movement in full swing, the Yankees haven’t been in this position in quite some time. Girardi said that his days as manager of the Marlins, who also had a lot of young talent, should help him going forward as the Baby Bombers continue to develop.
Girardi just hopes he can be in the Bronx guiding the next generation of Yankees to a title.
