MLB

Girardi won’t let money, Yankees’ future factor in decision

HOUSTON — The Yankees are facing an offseason filled with uncertainty — including the status of Joe Girardi.

The manager, though, said Sunday the murkiness won’t deter him from sticking around.

“There’s no challenge that really scares me, that I would ever shy away from,” Girardi said before the Yankees finished the season with a 5-1, 14-inning win over the Astros. “So that has very little impact on [my decision] whatsoever.”

The same goes for money, evidently.

When asked how much finances would play in his decision, Girardi made a ‘0’ with his hand. But he’s also not returning on a bargain.

“I’m not saying that,” Girardi said with a laugh.

Instead, he pointed mainly to his family as the most important factor regarding whether he would return if he is, as expected, offered a new contract.

“It comes down to family,” said Girardi, reiterating he doesn’t anticipate taking much time. “They are first. Whatever is best for the group of us, not one individual or just me or my wife or one of my children.”

He also noted that missed time with his kids is something that weighed on him, but noted his family enjoyed Girardi having the job.

As for the Cubs, who are expected to decide the fate of manager Dale Sveum Monday, Girardi wouldn’t address the job specifically — because it’s currently occupied — although he did point out it has been awhile since he called Chicago home.

“Our home has been here,” Girardi said. “My kids are engrossed in schools here. … We haven’t lived there since 2006, so the only person that was really there — I have a brother still there, a couple brothers there, actually — but my father’s gone, my mother’s gone, so there’s not as much there as there used to be.”

The Yankees have indicated they want Girardi back, although he wouldn’t get into specifics.

“We’ve talked about it,” Girardi said, adding that other teams are not yet permitted to contact him. “We’ll sit down and actually have a real powwow around the dinner table, probably, is what we’ll do and then we’ll go from there.”

And he insisted he is as competitive as ever.

“That hasn’t changed,” Girardi said. “I’m not so sure the competitive spirit in me will ever go away. … You’ve seen me argue this year.”

With Mariano Rivera and Andy Pettitte retiring, Robinson Cano approaching free agency and numerous other issues to address, Girardi can’t be sure of what would be awaiting him in Tampa for spring training.

Girardi didn’t sound overly concerned about the impending cuts in payroll, as the organization attempts to get under the $189 million luxury-tax threshold.

“It’s not like you’re cutting the payroll down to $60 million,” Girardi said. “It’s still a pretty high number. There’s a substantial amount of money coming off the books, too, just because of free agency and some players retiring. I’m sure it will be a busy winter, but a good winter.’’

Girardi wouldn’t say the offseason would necessarily be a transitional one.

“I don’t know if I would call it that, but I see it as a year where there’s probably more areas to address than there has been in a long time,” Girardi said. “There’s a lot to be done in the offseason, but the Yankees front office has always done a wonderful job and they’ll work on getting it done the right way.”

Including filling up the rotation.

“You look at CC [Sabathia], [Ivan] Nova right now and you are really not sure who is going to be here after that,” Girardi said. “You have the [Adam] Warrens, the [David] Phelpses, the [David] Huffs and the [Michael] Pinedas. … There is work to be done.”