Joe Torre surmised that Brian Cashman was in his corner Thursday at Legends Field when the Yankees made Torre an offer he easily refused.
“There were probably a person or two who wanted me back,” Torre told a packed press conference in Rye yesterday, one day after the Torre Era – which produced four World Series championships, six World Series appearances, 10 AL East titles (nine straight), and a dozen consecutive postseason appearances – came to an end.
Asked later who those two people were, Torre cut the number in half.
“I think Brian Cashman wanted me back, we had a good relationship,” Torre said.
Pressed on who the other voice may have been, Torre said, “I can’t be sure.”
According to Cashman, everyone in the room wanted Torre back, but only on a one-year deal worth $5 million with a chance to make an additional $3 million in incentives. If the incentives were reached, an option for 2009 would become guaranteed.
Torre wasn’t going to sign a one-year deal and said the incentives were an “insult.” Torre also said his hopes of negotiating were dashed quickly.
“I was hoping there would be, but there wasn’t,” Torre said. “At no time was I asked. It never got to negotiations.”
Cashman said all the voices in the room – from his own to George Steinbrenner to sons Hank and Hal, to club president Randy Levine, to COO Lonn Trost and Steinbrenner’s son-in-law Felix Lopez, who’s in charge of building the new elevator at Legends Field – agreed on Torre’s fate.
“It was a unanimous decision,” the GM said of the meeting that is an instant classic in Yankees lore since Torre walked out the door as the second-winningest manager in team history yet wanted to return. “I think you can be an ally and support the process at the same time. Everyone wanted Joe back, that was real. It wouldn’t have been a workable situation if Joe accepted something he wasn’t comfortable with or the Yankees presented something we weren’t comfortable with. At the end of the day it has to work for both sides.”
Asked why Torre may have felt Cashman would have supported the multiyear deal Torre was looking for, Cashman said he believed it stemmed from their long working relationship and Cashman going to the canvas for Torre last October and this past May to save Torre’s job.
“He was speaking toward the 10-year relationship and knowing I always had his back,” Cashman said. “But there was no dissension in the room. I can tell you that it had to work for everyone.”
There were whispers yesterday the Yankees were annoyed at Torre for saying Cashman “wanted me back,” but Levine said that wasn’t the case.
“I don’t think anyone was mad; Joe Torre has the right to say what he is entitled to say,” said Levine, who has taken a beating for being the point-man in Thursday’s conference call.
With many blaming Levine for Torre leaving, Levine was asked about his relationship with Torre.
“I admire Joe Torre. I think he has done a great job,” Levine said. “I have absolutely nothing but respect for him. I have absolutely no personal issues with him.”
Additional reporting by Joel Sherman.