Former catcher declines last-minute Dodgers offer

Joe Girardi worked as a broadcaster this season after getting fired by the Marlins. AP

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Mattingly still wants to manage NEW YORK (AP) -- Don Mattingly is disappointed, but not angry at the New York Yankees, and still wants to manage in the majors. Passed over when new manager Joe Girardi was picked to replace Joe Torre, Mattingly said Tuesday he appreciated the opportunity to interview and was grateful for his 18 years in pinstripes. "I don't feel any ill will. I'm not sitting here -- vengeance is not running through me at all," said Mattingly, who grew up and lives in Evansville, Ind. "Trust me, I'm not all of a sudden going to start rooting for the Red Sox." The West Coast may be where he's heading now, especially if the Los Angeles Dodgers hire Torre to replace Grady Little, who resigned Tuesday. One of the most beloved players in franchise history and a former team captain, Mattingly returned to the Yankees as a coach in 2004. He spent three years as their hitting coach before serving as Torre's bench coach last season. But he said he was never promised the manager's job by owner George Steinbrenner. "I was never, ever guaranteed anything. Mr. Steinbrenner never said, 'Donnie come back, you're going to be the next manager,'" Mattingly said. "You have to earn your place and prove that you can do something, and I have no problems with that." Once Girardi was offered the job, Mattingly told the Yankees he had no interest in coming back as a coach. Before Little resigned, Mattingly was asked about hooking up with Torre again as a bench coach. "I haven't seen that Joe's managing anywhere or going anywhere, so it's hard for me to answer that question. It's not a situation that I'm prepared to talk about," Mattingly said. But he didn't rule out that scenario. "I think everyone knows how I feel about Joe. I have a ton of respect. He's helped me in so many different ways," Mattingly said. "If something would happen with Joe and he would want me to be a part of that, I'll make that decision."

By Jon Heyman, SI.com

Joe Girardi, rebuffing last-minute attempts by the Dodgers to become their manager, has agreed to succeed Joe Torre as Yankees manager.

And, in a major twist, Torre may switch from the Yankees to the Dodgers. Now that Girardi is off the market -- and especially after Grady Little resigned on Tuesday -- people close to the situation say the Dodgers will put a full-court press on Torre and expect him to accept the job.

People inside the Yankees organization are re-energized by the appointment of Girardi after suffering a difficult blow when Alex Rodriguez opted out of his $252 million Yankees contract.

"I think any of us would be somewhat surprised to get the job because it's such an honor," Girardi said Tuesday. "I'm extremely excited and thrilled. "I can't be Joe Torre, because I'm made up different. I'm a different character. I'm just worried about being myself and getting the most out of the guys."

Girardi's deal is worth $7.8 million, a person familiar with the agreement said, speaking on condition of anonymity because the Yankees didn't announce the details. It includes bonuses based on how far the team advances in the postseason.

Girardi has longtime ties to the Yankees as a former player and coach and current broadcaster. He has been baseball's hottest commodity among managerial candidates almost since the day he was fired by the Marlins following a Manager of the Year performance in 2006.

The Dodgers contacted Girardi and Torre about their managerial job, people familiar with the situation say. The Journal News of Westchester, N.Y., reported that Torre will accept the Dodgers' offer, and others say they believe that he will indeed accept the position.

The Dodgers' current manager, Grady Little, had a contract through 2008, but he resigned Tuesday in a move he said he considered for some time.

"I've got my own personal reasons. There's a lot of belief I've been dealt an injustice here. That couldn't be further from the truth," Little said on a conference call. "My plans? To play with my grandkids."

ESPN.com first reported that Girardi accepted the Yankees' offer.

Once he was informed Monday that the Yankees had chosen Girardi, Don Mattingly told the team he had no interest in returning next year as bench coach or in any other coaching position.

Beloved as team captain, Donnie Baseball was the early favorite to replace Torre and openly coveted the spot. Instead, the Yankees picked experience over popularity, choosing Girardi even at the risk Mattingly would walk away from the franchise.

"I think Joe is a good baseball person and totally will be a great manager there in New York," Mattingly said.

Still, spurning Mattingly -- who always receives one of the loudest ovations on Old-Timers' Day -- was sure to be compared to another famous Yankee snub: Babe Ruth was never offered the manager's job he so desperately wanted.

Mattingly was the Yankees hitting coach for three years before moving next to Torre this season. Schulte said Mattingly congratulated Girardi and wished him well.

Girardi also beat out Yankees first-base coach Tony Pena, who had the most managerial experience of the candidates. Pena agreed to remain with the coaching staff. Former major league pitcher Mike Harkey, Yankees minor league coach Dave Eiland and former Yankees infielder Bobby Meacham also are coaching possibilities. Kevin Long and Rob Thompson are expected to remain on the staff.

Girardi caught for the Yankees from 1996-99, served as a bench coach in 2005, then managed the Marlins the following year. He kept a young team in contention until September and then was fired, apparently for clashing with owner Jeffrey Loria and others above him.

The 43-year-old Girardi often told many in the Marlins about how the Yankees did things, reinforcing the winning ways he learned in New York. Now, he'll get a chance to try them out himself.

Girardi was the first person to interview to replace Torre, who managed the team to the playoffs in each of his 12 seasons. He spent about five hours with the Yankees' baseball operations staff last week, and an hour with George Steinbrenner, sons Hank and Hal, son-in-law Felix Lopez and team president Randy Levine.

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