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New York • Joe Girardi's return as manager of the New York Yankees was all about family.
Girardi signed a four-year contract that could be worth up to $20 million Wednesday to stay with New York through 2017.
With the Yankees missing out on the playoffs this season for the second time in 19 years, the 48-year-old Girardi got an early start on determining his future. He went over several possible scenarios with his wife, Kim, and three children that included taking a year off, pursuing a broadcasting job or managing somewhere else. But they quickly came to the conclusion that six years in New York was not enough.
"It wasn't ever a lot of thought that I might not possibly come back. I just had to make sure that everyone was still on board," Girardi said on a conference call.
Girardi was in the final month of his second three-year contract (worth $9 million) with the Yankees since taking over for Joe Torre after the 2007 season, and he asked for a fourth year in the new deal.
The contract includes $16 million guaranteed and up to $4 million in bonuses, according to a person with knowledge of the agreement. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because financial details were not announced.
"Our lives have been here for six years," Girardi said. "I think stability is important."