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NEW YORK - Former player Joe Girardi has been appointed manager of the New York Yankees in place of Joe Torre, the Major League Baseball team announced today.
Girardi has signed a three-year contract. He spent four seasons as a catcher with the Yankees from 1996 and had a year as Torre's bench coach in 2005.
He spent this season working in sports television in New York after leaving the Florida Marlins where he was named manager of the year for 2006.
Girardi was one of three candidates interviewed by the Yankees last week. Also lined up as possible replacements for Torre were Yankees bench coach Don Mattingly and the team's first-base coach Tony Pena.
Torre turned down a fresh one-year deal earlier this month after 12 seasons in charge.
- REUTERS
