Joe Girardi Becomes Yankees Manager, Mattingly Quits, Yankees Rebuild

The New York Yankees have offered the vacant manager's post to Joe Girardi, who beat out bench coach Don Mattingly and first-base coach Tony Pena to take on the most challenging job in baseball. He now inherits a team with the largest payroll in the Major Leagues and the uneviable task of following in the footsteps of one of the sport's most successful managers in history, Joe Torre.

Girardi's contract is rumoured to be worth $6 million for three years. He faces a team rebuilding process that would make his main job of delivering the World Series even tougher than it already is. On Monday, star third baseman Alex Rodriguez chose to opt out of his contract with the Yankees to become a free agent, while veteran and No. 1 closer Mariano Rivera and catcher Jorge Posada have also entered free agency. Pitcher Andy Pettitte is another who stands to walk away from the team, although he has not made any announcement on a decision.

Changes will also take place in the management team. Much respected and great crowd favourite Don Mattingly, who served as Torre's bench coach this year, has resigned from his position with news that he had been bypassed for the manager's job. Mattingly had been the Yankees' hitting coach for three years prior to sitting next to Torre in 2007, and made no secret of his long term desire to take over the manager's post. He was understandably disappointed at missing out, but sent his well wishes to Girardi when the news broke. It is still to be seen if Pena would remain with the Yankees, although he has signalled previously there would be no problem working with either Girardi or Mattingly if either were chosen over him.

It is clear the Yankees are entering a new turbulent chapter in the club's history. With the departures of Torre, A-Rod and possibly the other 3 long-time Yankees, Girardi might in fact be allowed to craft a team more in his own image. It was interesting to note that he served as Posada's backup as a player in pinstripes in 1996, 1998 and 1999. It might be awkward given the roles are not interchanged. Girardi's fiery and passionate personality could also bring in a different face to the team previously under Torre, who was not known to resort to emotional methods in motivation. As the franchise continues to roll out the changes and attempt to stabilise the situations, it remains to be seen how a personality like Girardi, who famously won the NL Manager of the Year Award in 2006 before getting fired from his Florida Marlins post after falling out with its owners, would blend with the Steinbrenner style.

Replacing A-Rod presents another challenge. With Boston's Mike Lowell also to become a free agent despite winning the World Series, Yankees have a ready-made solution in going for a player with a proven track record of consistency and top-class performances. Lowell's postseason experience and clutch hitting would also outshine that of A-Rod's. Girardi's playing time with Derek Jeter and Rivera in the past would also see how the new man copes with being on the other side of the line with ex-colleagues. The next few weeks should reveal more.