Jon Heyman reported Wednesday night that Brian Cashman met with Joe Girardi and his agent, Steve Mandell, earlier in the day in New York and the Yankees’ GM made Girardi an offer to stay with the Yankees. According to Heyman’s report, Girardi countered with “some parameters” and the two sides agreed to meet again on Thursday.
According to a report from Gordon Wittenmyer,”“those parameters are believed to go well beyond financial considerations” and according to Wittenmyer’s source, “are believed to include permission to talk to the Cubs before committing to the Yankees.”
Joe Girardi is under contract with the Yankees until October 31 and without the Yankees’ permission, the Cubs could not officially talk to him until November 1.
Wittenmyer reported “the Cubs and Girardi have expressed mutual interest through back channels for weeks” and the Cubs “are prepared to make the Yankees’ skipper an offer that could make him one of the two highest paid managers in the game.”
A report from Buster Olney on Wednesday indicated the Cubs have serious interest in Joe Girardi and the ownership views Girardi as “someone who can help jolt fan interest in the team.” Gordon Wittenmyer added that Girardi has been “the ownership favorite two of the last three times the managerial job was open.”
According to the Sun-Times, Tom Ricketts and Crane Kenney are “pushing hard for a chance at Girardi” but as of his report, the Cubs had not received permission from the Yankees to speak with him.
Joe Girardi figures to be paid $4 million to $5 million annually to manage either the Cubs or the Yankees moving forward.
While the Cubs wait for a chance to formally talk to Joe Girardi, names are surfacing as possible candidates to be the next Cubs’ manager.
A.J. Hinch and Sandy Alomar Jr. are two names that have received the most ink in the last 36 hours while Manny Acta and Rays’ bench coach Davey Martinez could also be of interest to the Cubs according to the Sun-Times. Other names that have ended up in the rumor mill include Torey Lovullo (Red Sox bench coach), Eric Wedge, Mike Maddux, Trey Hillman (Dodgers bench coach) and Tim Wallach (Dodgers third base coach).
Stay tuned for updates from The Girardi Watch …