Joe Girardi missed the playoffs for the second time in his managerial tenure with the New York Yankees but still wound up with a new contract.
Girardi's Yankees have largely been succesful, making the playoffs in four out of six seasons with a World Series title in 2009. His managerial record with the club is 564-408.
The reported length of Girardi's new deal is four years, and in that time he'll have to figure out how to transition the Yankees away from the core that brought them so much success. Mariano Rivera and Andy Pettitte both retired, and Derek Jeter spent the majority of his season on the DL.
Girardi will be measured on that transition. He was handed a glorified roster upon Joe Torre's dismissal, and now must reshape the team in his liking. Depending on Alex Rodriguez's ongoing battle with MLB, he may have some cash flexibility. Mostly he will hope his team can stay healthy in 2014 and beyond.
Still, a plan is necessary for New York to begin a new golden era in a time where city and location — and even fan support, as evidenced by the Tampa Bay Rays — are less important. It could be tougher than ever to build a team in New York.
But that process began by bringing back the manager most familiar with the state of the franchise, the man the Yankees' front office obviously believes is the one to lead them in the right direction.
