Joe Girardi returns to a dugout after a two-year absence.
The Philadelphia Phillies have hired former New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi as their next skipper.
The team announced that he receives a three-year contract with a team option in 2023. Girardi will be introduced at a news conference Monday.ESPN.com
“I’m excited for this next chapter of my career,” Girardi said in a statement. “The Phillies have a strong commitment to winning from the owners to the front office to the players to the fans. It’s something that I’ve seen up close for the last 30 years of my baseball career. I played against the great Phillies players of the early ’90s from Dutch Daulton to John Kruk to Dave Hollins, and I managed against their teams during the incredible run they had from 2008 to 2011. To have my name now associated with this great franchise is something that I couldn’t be happier about.”
I like Girardi. He seems to be the kind of person who learns from his mistakes. The Phillies also have a young-veteran team where Girardi’s business like style should work well.
His main problem is that the NL East is a tough division. The Braves and Nationals are great, the Mets have an outstanding rotation and two excellent young hitters, and the Marlins’ rebuilding may pay off soon. Winning will not be easy.