Yankees Decide to Retain Torre

Joe Torre was in his office at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday, about to give the media his season wrap-up, when General Manager Brian Cashman walked in and handed him his cellphone.

George Steinbrenner was on the line.

“He has informed me that I will be here as his manager next year,” Torre said about 15 minutes later.

And with that, Steinbrenner ended three days of speculation that followed his team’s second straight first-round exit from the AL playoffs.

Ever since Detroit eliminated the Yankees on Saturday, reports of Torre’s imminent dismissal dominated New York media. When Steinbrenner left Monday to return to Tampa, Fla., he said he still hadn’t made a decision.

Would he revert to his old ways, when he changed managers 20 times from 1973 to 1995? Or would he stick with Torre, who led the team to four World Series titles in his first five years but none in the last six seasons?

“Let’s just say that he echoed support and commitment to having me go on in this job,” Torre said. “I felt comfortable with the conversation.”

Steinbrenner recounted the talk in a statement issued through spokesman Howard Rubenstein, saying he told Torre: “You’re back for the year. I expect a great deal from you and the entire team. I have high expectations, and I want to see enthusiasm, a fighting spirit and a team that works together. Responsibility is yours, Joe, and all of the Yankees.”

Cashman added that the team did not plan to trade third baseman Alex Rodriguez.

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Center fielder Torii Hunter will be back with the Minnesota Twins for at least one more year.

The Twins picked up their 2007 option on Hunter’s contract, and his $12-million salary will be the largest single-season sum in team history.

The five-time Gold Glove award winner wants to stay with Minnesota longer than that, but if his deal isn’t extended by the spring, he seemed resigned to leaving as a free agent next year.

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Oakland Athletics owner Lewis Wolff purchased 10 acres of land near the Fremont site the team has eyed for a new baseball stadium. A company controlled by Wolff bought three lots along Interstate 880 that are adjacent to a vacant, 143-acre site the A’s have targeted for a new ballpark, the Oakland Tribune reported.

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Staying power

Managers with the longest tenure at their current team:

*--* MANAGER TEAM HIRED RECORD PCT Bobby Cox Atlanta 1990 1,550-1,071 591 Bruce Bochy San Diego 1995 951-975 494 Tony La Russa St. Louis 1996 977-803 549 Joe Torre N.Y. Yankees 1996 1,079-699 607 Mike Scioscia Angels 2000 609-525 537 Ron Gardenhire Minnesota 2002 455-354 562 Clint Hurdle Colorado 2002 352-436 447

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Source: baseball-reference.com