Report: Yanks close to agreeing to extension with Torre
March 4, 2004
NEW YORK (Ticker) - It appears Joe Torre wants to manage Alex Rodriguez for more than one season.
The New York Post is reporting that the New York Yankees are on the verge of signing Torre to a two-year contract extension worth up to $16 million.
Entering the final year of a three-year, $16 million deal, Torre had said he would probably wait until after the 2004 season to decide if he wanted to remain as Yankees manager.
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But that stance apparently has changed. The 62-year-old Torre met with Yankees general partner Steve Swindal earlier in the week to begin negotiations on a contract extension.
"I am very encouraged that things are going well," said Swindall, the son-in-law of Yankees owner George Steinbrenner. "We have clearly made progress. He has made strong indications now he wants to manage the Yankees beyond this year and we want him back unequivocally."
The acquisition of Rodriguez, the reigning American League Most Valubable Player, from Texas last month may have helped to initiate a thaw in the icy relationship that existed between Torre and Steinbrenner.
Both battled last year over the handling of Cuban pitcher Jose Contreras, and Steinbrenner criticized Torre's coaching staff. Bench coach Don Zimmer quit last October because he said he was "mistreated" by Steinbrenner. Pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre admitted to feeling "personally abused" and pondered retirement before deciding to return.
Torre led New York to four World Series titles in his first five years at the helm from 1996-2000. Over the last three years, he has guided the Yanks to two more World Series appearances, but they lost to Arizona in 2001 and to Florida last season.
Torre has taken the Yankees to the playoffs in each of his eight seasons, compiling a record of 786-506 and 66-33 in the postseason.
March 4, 2004
NEW YORK (Ticker) - It appears Joe Torre wants to manage Alex Rodriguez for more than one season.
The New York Post is reporting that the New York Yankees are on the verge of signing Torre to a two-year contract extension worth up to $16 million.
Entering the final year of a three-year, $16 million deal, Torre had said he would probably wait until after the 2004 season to decide if he wanted to remain as Yankees manager.
ADVERTISEMENT
But that stance apparently has changed. The 62-year-old Torre met with Yankees general partner Steve Swindal earlier in the week to begin negotiations on a contract extension.
"I am very encouraged that things are going well," said Swindall, the son-in-law of Yankees owner George Steinbrenner. "We have clearly made progress. He has made strong indications now he wants to manage the Yankees beyond this year and we want him back unequivocally."
The acquisition of Rodriguez, the reigning American League Most Valubable Player, from Texas last month may have helped to initiate a thaw in the icy relationship that existed between Torre and Steinbrenner.
Both battled last year over the handling of Cuban pitcher Jose Contreras, and Steinbrenner criticized Torre's coaching staff. Bench coach Don Zimmer quit last October because he said he was "mistreated" by Steinbrenner. Pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre admitted to feeling "personally abused" and pondered retirement before deciding to return.
Torre led New York to four World Series titles in his first five years at the helm from 1996-2000. Over the last three years, he has guided the Yanks to two more World Series appearances, but they lost to Arizona in 2001 and to Florida last season.
Torre has taken the Yankees to the playoffs in each of his eight seasons, compiling a record of 786-506 and 66-33 in the postseason.
