MLB

Family time may be Girardi’s most tempting offer

A day after the end of an unacceptable season, the Yankees decompressed Monday, but that didn’t stop the speculation surrounding Joe Girardi’s future.

Everything seems to be in play for the 48-year-old Girardi, who finished a sixth year as the Yankees manager with a disappointing 85-77 record and missed the postseason for the second time in the span. He did lead the Yankees to the 2009 World Series title.

Prior to the Cubs firing Dale Sveum Monday, which kicked the Girardi-to-the-Cubs speculation to a higher gear, several people outside the Yankees’ inner circle speculated Girardi might sit out the 2014 season in order to be with his family.

Girardi’s agent, Steve Mandell, wouldn’t be doing his job if he didn’t contact the Nationals to see what they are going to do about their search for Davey Johnson’s successor.

Mandell didn’t immediately return a message.

Asked if he would grant a team permission to talk to Girardi, general manager Brian Cashman said he would wait until Tuesday’s Yankee Stadium press conference to answer questions. Girardi’s contract expires Nov. 1.

Despite missing the postseason, the Yankees are expected to offer Girardi a contract following a season in which the club stayed in wild-card contention until the final week of the season despite a bevy of injuries to big-name players.

After Sunday’s season finale in Houston, Girardi said his family — wife Kim and three children — will play a role in what he does.

“It comes down to family. They are first,” Girardi said. “Whatever is the best for us, not one individual or me or my wife or one of my children. We will sit down and have a real powwow around the dinner table, probably, is what we do and then go from there.”

Girardi is devoted to his family and time away from them hurts, but he admitted his family enjoys his being the Yankees’ manager.

As for the Cubs, until they hire a manager not named Girardi, his name will be linked because he’s a former Cubs player and a Peoria, Ill. native who played at Northwestern.

Sunday, Girardi downplayed Chicago having the allure it once did and said his family is settled in Westchester.

Yankees starter Ivan Nova, for one, is hopeful Girardi returns.

“He’s a good manager,” Nova said. “There’s no doubt about it. I’m hoping he comes back. That’s what we want. He’s a great person.”

None of the Yankees coaches are under contract for next year..

Additional reporting by Howie Kussoy