Everything in the Yankees’ world is up in the air, including the future of manager Joe Girardi.
Girardi is a free agent on Monday. He is not the type who puts himself in the spotlight, so he has not drawn a lot of attention, but nothing would surprise me when it comes to his future.
Despite all of the Yankees’ issues, Girardi would like to come back to manage in The Bronx next season, and the Bombers want him back, but there is a part of him that always will have ties to the Midwest and if the Cubs, the team he loved growing up in East Peoria, Illinois, and then played for, came calling, I could see Girardi taking the leap to go back home. His wife, Kim, is also from the Midwest and would have no qualms about going “home.’’
Girardi is about family-first, and he may not want to uproot his children, but if Girardi gets the chance to manage the Cubs, he would have to seriously consider making the move.
Cubs president Theo Epstein and general manager Jed Hoyer will meet with current Cubs manager Dale Sveum on Monday to decide his fate. Sveum has one year remaining on his contract.
Girardi is not one to tip his hand.
When asked about his Yankees’ future Thursday night he said: “That’s something for the offseason. Let’s get through these four days and then maybe I can start to address those questions.
“I’ve said many times,’’ Girardi said before Thursday night’s 4-0 loss to the Rays, “that I’ve really enjoyed being here as a manager, a coach, a player, a broadcaster. I love my time here, but that is not something that is handled in-season and we’ll wait to the offseason.’’
When asked, “Are you sure you want to stay on?’’ Girardi went into his shell.
“Well, you’re asking me to get into it,” he said. “I said I’d get into it after the season.’’
Considering all of the injuries and the Alex Rodriguez turmoil, Girardi has done an excellent job. Sometimes, he gets a little crazy with his binder and I was never a fan of batting Robinson Cano or Alex Rodriguez second. Also, he can get matchup mania with his bullpen, but the good outweighs the bad.
Girardi loves Yankees’ history and Thursday night was another Yankees Long Goodbye, with Mariano Rivera pitching his final Yankee Stadium game with tears all around from Mo and even Joe. This could have been Girardi’s final game in pinstripes, too.
The problem for the Yankees is that now all they have is history. They have become good at farewells.
Does Girardi want to tie himself to a team that is on the downside?
The Cubs have 105 years of downside. But Girardi easily could invest himself in some Cubs history if the opportunity presents itself.
In his heart of hearts it would be a dream come true if Girardi could ever be part of the management team that brings the Cubs back to the World Series.
The Nationals will be looking for a manager as well and that team has plenty of talent. Girardi has options, if he wants to pursue those options. Girardi is only 48, the fifth youngest manager in the majors. This is his sixth season already as Yankees manager. He has won a World Series and has missed out on the postseason twice.
Don’t forget that not too long ago, Girardi tried to talk Rivera out of retiring.
Clearly, he was thinking about the Yankees’ future.