NEW YORK (AP) - Joe Torre rejected a $5 million, one-year
contract to return as manager of the New York Yankees on Thursday.
Torre, who had held the job since 1995, made an unannounced trip
from New York to the team's spring training complex in Tampa, Fla.,
accompanied by general manager Brian Cashman and chief operating
officer Lonn Trost. Yankees president Randy Levine said Torre
turned down the offer during the meeting, which lasted about one
hour.
"It is now time for the New York Yankees to move forward,"
Levine said.
Torre made $7.5 million this year, the final season of a $19.2
million, three-year contract. His new deal would have included
substantial bonuses for each round of the playoffs the team
reached.
"We felt we needed to go to a performance-based mode," Levine
said. "We thought it was very fair. It clearly was at the top of
the market, but we respect Joe's decision."
Bench coach Don Mattingly is the leading contender to replace
Torre. Yankees broadcaster Joe Girardi, the NL Manager of the Year
with Florida in 2006, is another top contender.
Cashman said there will be a full search for a replacement.
Just 10 days ago, the Yankees were bounced out of the first
round of the playoffs for the third straight year.

(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)