After making Joe Girardi an offer to remain the Yankees manager on Friday, the Yankees still were waiting for an answer on Saturday.
According to a person familiar with the negotiations, Girardi was expected to take at least a couple of days to make up his mind on the offer, which is believed to be for three years and worth in the $13 million-15 million range.
The Cubs and Nationals reportedly are interested in Girardi as well, but the Yankees have yet to grant permission to anyone to speak with Girardi, who is under contract until Nov. 1.
Though Girardi is familiar with how the organization has been run since joining the Yankees as a player in 1996 and having just completed his sixth season as Yankees manager, he is aware the foundation could be changing.
With ownership’s goal of getting payroll under $189 million next season, Girardi doesn’t know if Robinson Cano, who is about to become a free agent, will be back. The starting rotation currently consists of CC Sabathia — who is coming off a down season and Ivan Nova — who has been maddeningly inconsistent during his brief career.
Andy Pettitte is retired and Hiroki Kuroda also could skip town, leaving the likes of David Phelps and Adam Warren, among others, to fight for spots in the rotation.
As for the bullpen, the Yankees will no longer be able to rely on Mariano Rivera to close games and will have to see if David Robertson can successfully make the transition from the eighth inning to the ninth.
Girardi and general manager Brian Cashman agree the Yankees could use more power than they had in 2013, when injuries and free agent departures combined to change the makeup of the offense.
There’s also uncertainty in the outfield, where Brett Gardner is entrenched in center and little else is known.
Alfonso Soriano is coming off a solid season, but is 37 and surrounded by other question marks. Curtis Granderson is a free agent and though his first choice is to remain with the Yankees, the money might not work. Vernon Wells and Ichiro Suzuki are both under contract for next year, as well, but went through prolonged slumps in 2013.
Derek Jeter had a year ruined by leg injuries and will turn 40 next year. He has a $9.5 million player option for 2014.
After dealing well with numerous Alex Rodriguez controversies, Girardi might have to wrestle with even more next season, as Rodriguez faces a possible 211-game suspension and recently filed lawsuits against both Major League Baseball and team physician Dr. Chris Ahmad.