NEW YORK -- Joe Girardi had hoped to continue managing the Yankees and was "surprised" and "disappointed" when the Yankees informed him that he would not return for an 11th season at the helm, he told MLB Network contributor Ken Rosenthal in a wide-ranging interview published on Tuesday by The Athletic.
Five days after the Yankees formally announced that they would part ways with Girardi coming off the club's elimination by the Astros in the American League Championship Series, Girardi said that he hopes to manage again in the future but will also entertain television opportunities and perhaps a role in the Commissioner's Office.
"With the year that we had and the progress the team had made, I thought I would be back," Girardi said. "Obviously, there is a ton of talent there, a ton of great young talent. I was excited about that. I thought I'd be back."
Girardi said that his conversation with general manager Brian Cashman had been "fairly quick."
"Brian told me as an organization they had decided to go in a different direction," Girardi said. "We talked for a few minutes and we talked later on for a little bit longer. For me, there was disappointment because I kind of wanted to finish what we had started this year. And I was looking forward to the growth of the organization, the young players, the more young players with the veterans we had.
"I was very excited about 2018. But in a lot of respects, I'm really thankful. I was there for 10 years. How many managers, head coaches in the NFL, NBA, NHL, college football coaches, college basketball coaches, get to spend 10 years in one place? It was where my kids grew up in a lot of ways. I feel really fortunate I was there for 10 years. I'm thankful to [managing general partner] Hal [Steinbrenner] and his family and Cash for sticking with me for 10 years."
Girardi said that he did not sense a change was in the works late in the season, saying that he thought it had been "business as usual" as the team went over its advanced scouting meetings against potential playoff opponents and hammered out the postseason roster.
"The communication was great," Girardi said.
The Yankees finished with 91 wins in 2017, good for second in the AL East while securing the AL's top Wild Card spot. Girardi's 910-710 (.562) record over his 10 seasons as the Yankees' manager ranked as the best in the Majors over that time span.
Following his dismissal, Girardi revealed that he spoke to Hal Steinbrenner, thanking him for the opportunity and being part of the Yankees family.
"He told me I would always be a part of this family," Girardi said. "Obviously, we would talk later on if I ever wanted to do something for the organization. I thought that was really nice for him to say that. They want me to still be part of the family. I have other interests in life. I do want to manage again. Time will tell exactly what I do."