TAMPA – A week into camp and the feeling of good will between George Steinbrenner and Joe Torre still smothers Legends Field. Adding Alex Rodriguez might not be the reason, but it’s definitely in the air.
While Torre isn’t ready to commit to a contract extension – something that has to make Steinbrenner a bit jumpy – the process is off to the type of start that could place Torre under contract to manage the Yankees through the 2006 season. That would keep Torre out of the market place for next season and end speculation that he would manage the Red Sox or Mets.
“There is nothing close but that will work out,” The Boss said of keeping Torre in pinstripes, a move that will cost Steinbrenner about $13 million for two years. “I have great hopes Joe will stay with the Yankees.”
Torre, who is in the final season of a three-year, $15.5 million contract has come a long way from last November when he told Steinbrenner he wasn’t happy with several things that went down last season.
“We discussed [an extension], I don’t know if there has ever been anything official,” said Torre, who met Steinbrenner at Legends Field last Wednesday and had dinner with him two nights later. “I don’t know what I want to do and I don’t feel I am ready to talk about it at this point, period. There was never any negotiation involved about a contract.”
Torre is buoyed by Steinbrenner publicly stating he wants Torre back.
“It’s encouraging to me. Our relationship has certainly gotten a lot healthier since I came [to Florida],” Torre said. “We both want the relationship to be good. It was good for more time than it wasn’t good. You certainly want to be wanted. I don’t need somebody to pat me on the rear end, but you don’t want to force somebody to keep you here. I think that’s where relationships help, so you can talk about things. Let’s put it this way, it’s a big step for me to be comfortable where [I am] working.”
Steinbrenner’s meddling a year ago became more public than in past seasons and it led to Torre having second thoughts about managing the Yankees beyond this season. Often The Boss would say, “It’s Joe’s team, I gave him everything he asked for.” Steinbrenner over-ruled Torre and pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre about what minor-league city Jose Contreras was to be sent to. Steinbrenner nudged hitting coach Rick Down in the middle of the season and didn’t speak to Don Zimmer, Torre’s close friend, all season. By September, Torre admitted the year hadn’t been fun.
“That’s why I don’t have a decision because I wasn’t’ sure it was going to be a good marriage,” Torre said. “In spite of wanting to come back, you have to make sure people want you back.”
So, where did it change between Torre and Steinbrenner? Did A-Rod turn the trick?
“I don’t know and I don’t care,” said Torre, who will be 64 on July 18. “It happened without a plan.”
Torre and Steve Swindal, a Yankees general partner and Steinbrenner’s son-in-law, had a meeting planned for Tuesday but it was cancelled when Torre’s father-in-law broke his wrist.
While Torre said he is getting along better with Steinbrenner since Zimmer is gone, Torre explained the two aren’t connected.
“Zim would debate every year whether he was coming back and this year I asked him once and realized I didn’t have to ask him again,” Torre said. “It was time for him to move on because it looked like he was having a tough time dealing with the stuff that was going on.”
