New York Yankees have announced they have agreed on a four-year contract extension with manager Joe Girardi. Though the terms of the agreement were not disclosed in the announcement, insiders report that the deal is worth $16 million, plus bonuses.
Girardi took over the Yankees before the 2008 season and led the team to the playoffs in four of the six seasons in charge. Yankees also won their 27th World Series title in 2009 under him.
The Yankees had a tough season and finished joint-third in the AL East. However, pundits believe Girardi did a great job in keeping the team in the run for the playoff spots till late September, despite missing star players, such as Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter, Mark Teixeira and Curtis Granderson for most of the season, through injuries.
"I wouldn't have come back if I didn't think we could win a championship. I have faith in our organization. The history of this organization is unbelievable. Just to be able to put on the pinstripes, as a coach, a player, whoever you are, is special because of what New York has meant to Major League Baseball and what it's meant to all of us," Girardi said.
Girardi's previous contract was set to run out in October and there were rumours that he was the frontrunner for the vacancy that opened up at Chicago Cubs. However, the 48-year-old decided to stay on with the job that many consider as the toughest in baseball.
Girardi had also spent four years with Yankees as a player, between 1996 to 1999. He also won the National League Manager of the Year award in his debut managerial season with Florida Marlins.
