TAMPA – Joe Torre’s future with the Yankees sits in the hands of George Steinbrenner and his sons Hank and Hal. The male branch of the Steinbrenner family likely will decide Torre’s fate today when The Boss hosts his inner circle for the beginning of organizational meetings at Legends Field.
Though a decision could be reached, an announcement may not follow. Never in Steinbrenner’s 34 years of owning the Yankees has there been a more critical meeting. Not only will Torre be on the table, what to do with Alex Rodriguez, Jorge Posada, Mariano Rivera and Bobby Abreu will be heavily discussed.
Because Steinbrenner said he likely would not bring Torre back if he didn’t beat the Indians in the ALDS, Torre’s situation has been front and center in the Yankees’ universe.
Nobody is sure what way it will turn out. And those privy to what the Steinbrenners are thinking have been muzzled. The Boss is still believed to want Torre axed. Hank and Hal are harder to read. Hank, who has told people he likes Torre, said a week ago “nothing lasts forever” and in a wide-ranging interview with The Post this past weekend didn’t offer Torre a vote of confidence. Hal, a recluse, is tight-lipped even around people in the organization. As for The Boss, until he was quoted on Torre’s future during the ALDS, his lips were zipped for 99 percent of the season.
Also at the meeting will be club president Randy Levine, COO Lonn Trost and GM Brian Cashman, who saved Torre’s job last year and took the blame for the slow start in May when Steinbrenner grumbled about firing Torre. Assistant GM Gene Afterman will be in the room. Torre was in Westchester last night and doesn’t plan on attending.
If the Yankees bring Torre back, they may want him to take a cut from the $7 million he earned last year in the final season of a three-year, $19.2 million deal.
As for what went on yesterday in the Yankees’ world, the pace was slow. Cashman and Afterman left Yankee Stadium at 2:15 p.m. headed for the airport.
“Got nothing,” Cashman said on the way out.
At Legends, The Boss and Hank didn’t surface and Hal, who was in his office, never poked his head outside.
Son-in-law Felix Lopez, who will have a seat at the meeting only because he is married to Steinbrenner’s daughter Jessica, stopped outside Legends Field and briefly uttered, “All is quiet, now.”
By now the aftermath of what happens today – one way or the other – is known by heart. If Torre is canned, the leading candidates to replace him are Don Mattingly and Joe Girardi. The Boss wants Mattingly to manage his club; others are higher on Girardi, whose one year of managerial experience dwarfs that of Mattingly, who has never managed at any level.
If Torre is gone, don’t expect the Yankees to move quickly on Mattingly or Girardi. Following the guidelines of commissioner Bud Selig, the Yankees would have to seriously conduct a search that would include minority candidates.