Torre Turns Down Yanks

By MARIA NEWMAN
Published: October 19, 2007
Joe Torre said today that he turned down a $5 million offer to manage the New York Yankees for another year because “I didn’t think it was the right thing for me, I didn’t think it was the best thing for my players.”

Mr. Torre, in his first public comments since turning down the offer, said the owners did not seem to want to negotiate with him for more money, or better terms in a meeting in Tampa about his future that lasted a mere 20 minutes. In fact, they were offering a pay cut — to $5 million a year, with the chance of earning another $3 million if he led the Yankees to a World Series next season.

The bonus, he said, was “an insult.”

Although several candidates have been proposed & speculated on who's to fill Torre's job in New York such as Don Mattingly, Joe Girardi & Tony LaRussa, Joe denied suspicions that he's headed to fulfill his dream role on staff w/8U Coach Pitch team the Southern Force.

The idea, he said, is "simply not true. Although I haven't talked to Israel & the boys down there, it's probably no secret that I've always been a huge fan & will forever bleed navy & gold as a life-long member of Force Baseball Nation."