Breaking down the Yankees' options to replace Girardi
The New York Yankees announced Thursday that after a decade with the organization, Joe Girardi would not return to manage the club next season.
Girardi, 53, helped lead the Yankees to more than 900 wins and a 2009 World Series title, but the organization decided to "pursue alternatives" after the club was eliminated from the American League Championship Series by the Houston Astros.
There are plenty of capable options available for the Yankees to pursue. Here are five of them, and a little bit of information about each.
John Farrell
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MLB managerial experience:
2011-12 - Toronto Blue Jays - 154 wins, 170 losses
2013-17 - Boston Red Sox - 432 wins, 378 losses, 2013 World Series title
Farrell may be done in Beantown, but it doesn't seem like he wants to give up managing anytime soon. The 55-year-old reportedly interviewed with the Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday and would be an intriguing option in New York because of his ties to the Yankees' New England rival. He understands how to handle managing in a big market, but would he be an upgrade over Girardi?
Kevin Long
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MLB managerial experience: None
It doesn't look like Long will return to the New York Mets to reprise his role as the club's hitting coach, but he could reunite with a different former employer. Long spent 2007-14 with the Yankees and was a candidate in the Mets' search for a new skipper before they chose Mickey Callaway. He is very familiar with the organization, but has no managerial experience.
Brad Ausmus
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MLB managerial experience:
2014-17 - Detroit Tigers - 314 wins, 332 losses
Ausmus, like Farrell, has major-league experience in a big market and a division title under his belt, but he couldn't keep the Tigers on the winning track this season, guiding them to the worst record in baseball before he was ousted. The 48-year-old was also a reported candidate for the Mets' job and told Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic he'd be happy to manage again next season if the right opportunity presented itself.
Rob Thomson
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MLB managerial experience: None
Thomson is another wild-card option. He's been with the Yankees in various roles since 2006, and the Canadian-born bench coach stood in to manage three games in Girardi's absence in 2008 (although these games count towards Girardi's official total). It's been suggested that he's a strong candidate, and he's clearly well-liked in the organization.
Dusty Baker
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MLB managerial experience:
1993-2002 - San Francisco Giants - 840 wins, 715 losses
2003-06 - Chicago Cubs - 322 wins, 326 losses
2008-13 - Cincinnati Reds - 509 wins, 463 losses
2016-17 - Washington Nationals - 192 wins, 132 losses
This is a long shot, but Baker is available, comes with a history of winning games (1,863), and has managed in several big markets (Chicago, San Francisco, and Washington). He's also praised as a player's manager, which is the opposite of how Girardi was perceived. Baker has never won the big dance as a manager, although he came close with the Giants in 2002.