Breaking news: The Yankees offered Joe Torre a one-year contract and he rejected it. New York will have a new manager in 2008. The contract offered $5 million — a pay cut — and incentives plus a 2009 option depending on how the Yankees finished in ‘08. A lot of weirdness right out the gate. Check out these two quotes:
"Under this offer, he would continue to be the highest-paid manager in major-league baseball," team president Randy Levine said. "We thought that we need to go to a performance-based model, having nothing to do with Joe Torre's character, integrity or ability. We just think it's important to motivate people."
That’s the worst spin I’ve seen in years. Then — who else — Scott Boras stuck his nose in it:
"It is difficult, near impossible, to accept a salary cut," Boras said. "Successful people can afford their principles. They understand if they accept the position, there is a great risk the message to all under him is dissatisfaction."
Translation: anyone who accepts a pay cut is a punk, and don’t expect any of my clients — nudge nudge wink wink guess who — to do it. What a lovely way to start the off-season.
