Torre: Money Not the Issue With Yanks

Oct 19, 07:15 PM

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Rye Brook, NY (Sports Network) - Joe Torre met with the media Friday afternoon to discuss his decision to reject the one-year offer to return as manager of the New York Yankees, going so far at one point as to call the incentive-laden package "an insult."

Torre flew to Tampa, Florida on Thursday to meet with Yankees officials, who presented the second-winningest skipper in club history with a one-year deal worth a guaranteed $5 million. The contract included a postseason incentive structure of $1 million for each playoff round that the team reached. An option for an extra season would also have kicked in if the Yankees reached the World Series in 2008, but Torre rejected the offer.

"The terms of the contract were probably the thing I had the toughest time with," Torre said during an opening statement Friday. "One year, for one thing, the incentives, for another thing. The fact that I'd been there for 12 years and I didn't think motivation was needed."

Torre sat and answered questions for more than an hour after his opening remarks, giving a view of the brief meeting on Thursday, which he said lasted about 20 minutes, and talking about his 12-year career as Yankees manager.

Money, Torre said, was an issue, but taking a pay cut from a reported $7.5 million was not a big concern. The one-year offer and the playoff bonus system were the decisive factors.

"The incentives, to me, I took as an insult," Torre stated. "To basically get to postseason and then all of a sudden we're satisfied? I don't know how to say one is never enough, two is never enough. You're constantly driving because you know that's the standard you set for yourself."

Torre said he tried to initiate a negotiation, but got no response.

"I was discouraged that we would never move off the offer that they made. That they never got to a negotiation."

Asked if two years had been offered would he have taken the job, he said it never came to that.

"The two years would have opened the door to have further discussion, but it never happened.

"I offered a concept. It was more a concept in trying to find something that could work for both of us. It was term and how to go about it. Money wasn't involved in the suggestion."

In all, though, Torre appeared fine with the way things turned out.

"I was very much at peace with my decision."

Torre reflected on the 12 successful years and the four World Series championships, citing the 2000 Fall Classic victory over the Mets as near "nirvana."

"I can't tell you how exciting and how appreciative and how memorable this whole experience has been," Torre said.

"That World Series run we had was incredible. You don't realize it until you lose a three-game lead like we did against Boston [2004 ALCS]. To win 14 straight World Series games [1996-2000] is pretty special."

The 67-year-old Torre was a gaudy 1,173-767 during the regular season in his tenure with the Yankees, winning the World Series four years in a five- season span (1996, 1998-2000). His tenure included a run of nine straight AL East titles and playoff appearances in each of his 12 seasons.

The team with the highest payroll in the majors over the last few years hasn't fared well in the playoffs, however. The Yankees blew a 3-0 lead in the ALCS against Boston in 2004 and were beaten in the 2005 ALDS by Anaheim. Last year, the Yankees were eliminated in four games by Detroit in the first round before this year's four-game elimination by Cleveland.

The Yankees now have a task to find a new manager, but Torre wouldn't say who is best-suited for the position or if he would recommend anybody.

"I'm not sure if I'm in a position to recommend anybody, I just lost my job," Torre joked. "I've had a number of coaches on my staff that are certainly qualified. Having a Yankee connection helps because it's so important in New York in dealing with the media on a regular basis that you have to experience it to understand it.

"I don't want to mention any names. I'm not sure if it's going to help or hurt. I'd rather stay away from that."

Torre has 2,067 career victories for sole possession of eighth place on baseball's all-time managerial wins list. He's also managed the Mets (1977-81), Braves (1982-84) and Cardinals (1990-95) during his career.

Whether a future managerial job is in his future, he also wouldn't say.

"That would depend on sitting with someone and discussing what the job is," Torre noted. It certainly would be different. I still feel the energy level. I'm free to listen right now."

10/19 19:07:20 ET