The long wait is over… sort of. Joe Torre has officially turned down the Yankees offer of a one year, $5 million contract with an extra $3 million in incentives and an option for a second year. This effectively ends Torre’s 12 year run as Yankees manager in which he led the Bombers to one of their most successful runs in franchise history. The week and a half long hold out ended in a conclusive manner with Torre’s rejection of the team’s offer. It begs the question of why Torre did reject it. Was it the $2 million pay cut of his base salary? Perhaps, it is a substantial pay cut, but even with that he still would have been the highest paid manager in baseball and if Torre led the team to the World Series then he would have received $1 million more then he had been getting paid in recent years. Many are calling this an unfair offer that Torre had no choice but to reject, but since when is $5 million a slap in the face? Lou Piniella and Tony Larussa have a comparable track record to Joe Torre but did not feel insulted when they were offered less money then Torre was offered now. If Torre loved this job as much as he often stated he did, then he should not have let that pay cut effect his desire to return to the team.
On the other hand, Torre should have no need to prove himself to the Yankees organization, as he has taken this team to the World Series in half of his years as the Yankees manager. The incentive laden contract essentially is telling Torre to prove himself, so it could be seen as insulting. Torre even stated during his press conference that “that kind of motivation was not needed” and that he took them “as an insult”, so it seemed to be quite the mitigating factor in his decision. Also, I’m sure if my boss wanted me to come back to work at severely reduced pay I’d be upset as well. Either way, Torre is gone and the Yankees will have to move on with a new man in the dugout. It is indeed the end of an era, but all good things must come to an end and whoever does replace Torre as the Yankees manager will still have a talented team to work with, so the Yankees success does not have to end just because Joe Torre’s reign has. Torre’s relationship with the organization has also taken what may be irreparable damage, as when asked about a possible return to the organization for an event or some sort of role, Torre could only say “I’m not prepared to comment on that right now”. Yea, that’s a no.
On the other hand, Torre should have no need to prove himself to the Yankees organization, as he has taken this team to the World Series in half of his years as the Yankees manager. The incentive laden contract essentially is telling Torre to prove himself, so it could be seen as insulting. Torre even stated during his press conference that “that kind of motivation was not needed” and that he took them “as an insult”, so it seemed to be quite the mitigating factor in his decision. Also, I’m sure if my boss wanted me to come back to work at severely reduced pay I’d be upset as well. Either way, Torre is gone and the Yankees will have to move on with a new man in the dugout. It is indeed the end of an era, but all good things must come to an end and whoever does replace Torre as the Yankees manager will still have a talented team to work with, so the Yankees success does not have to end just because Joe Torre’s reign has. Torre’s relationship with the organization has also taken what may be irreparable damage, as when asked about a possible return to the organization for an event or some sort of role, Torre could only say “I’m not prepared to comment on that right now”. Yea, that’s a no.
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