The Yankees and Joe Girardi are closing in on a three-year contract that will pay him $9 million, The Post has learned.
Girardi would receive a bump from a contract that expires Saturday that paid him $7.5 million over three years. The raise would elevate Girardi to a tie with the Phillies Charlie Manuel for the sixth highest-paid manager.
The sides believe the deal could be finalized yesterday or today. The Yankees would have to ask MLB for permission to announce it on a day when World Series games are played. Tomorrow is dark.
When the deal is complete, the Yankees will move on to more complicated issues involving free agency for Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera, and formulating a plan to chase the diamond of the free-agent class, lefty Cliff Lee.
The Yankees have organizational meetings next week in The Bronx and Tampa, where all of their top baseball officials and scouts will gather to determine an offseason course.
The Yankees remain confident they will be able to strike deals to retain Jeter and Rivera because both sides want that to occur. The delicate matter will be that the Yankees almost certainly will be looking to cut Jeter’s salary from the average of $18.9 million annually over his now-concluding 10-year deal and the $22.6 million he earned in 2010.
Jeter refused all season to discuss his thoughts on his value in a new contract.
During the season, Rivera repeatedly said he was going to take it one year at a time. However, there is talk within the organization that the future Hall of Fame closer wants a two-year deal.
That could present a minor hurdle since Rivera will be 41 late next month and made $15 million this past season.