The New York Yankees somewhat improbably were one win from reaching the World Series for the first time since 2009. Despite the success, the club elected to not retain Joe Giradi as his four-year, $16 million contract expired at the conclusion of the season.
Giradi went 910-710 with one American League pennant and one World Series during his 10 years as Yankees manager. The organization was said to be interested in moving in a direction with a skipper who was well-versed in analytics and a strong communicator.
More than one month since the decision to part with Giradi, the Yankees may be reaching the finish line. According to the New York Post, senior vice presidetn and general manager Brian Cashman said ownership will soon receive a recommendation from the front office:
“I’m closing the doors on the six we’ve interviewed,” the Yankees’ general manager said at rehearsal for the Heights & Lights program here, in which he rappels down the Landmark Building. “From that, we’ll make a recommendation. It’s time to make a recommendation to ownership and go from there.”
The six candidates who formally interviewed for the position include Carlos Beltran, who retired after winning the World Series with the Houston Astros, ESPN broadcaster Aaron Boone and San Francisco Giants bench coach Hensley Meulens.
The crop of interviewees is rounded out by longtime Yankees coach and executive Rob Thomson, former Cleveland Indians and Seattle Mariners manager Eric Wedge, and Dodgers third-base coach Chris Woodward.
After interviewing for the vacancy, Woodward said being named Yankees manager would be a “dream come true.” His managerial experience is limited to leading Team New Zealand in February 2016 in the World Baseball Classic qualifiers.
Prior to joining Dave Roberts’ staff with the Dodgers, Woodward was the Mariners’ Minor League infield coordinator in 2013, infield coach the following year, and their first base and infield coach in 2015.
