No Extension for Joe Girardi Heading Into Final Year of Contract

NEW YORK -- Joe Girardi managed the Yankees to 103 regular-season wins and a World Series title in 2009.

His reward: lame-duck status.

"I don't do extensions," Yankees managing general partner Hal Steinbrenner on Thursday told FanHouse. "It's a policy I have, one I've always had."

Which means Girardi, 45, will stay on his original three-year deal that is up after the 2010 season.

Which would seem to mean a hot seat, even with a shiny new World Series ring.

Making the "O" sign with his hand, Girardi said there has been "zero" discussions about extending his contract.

"I don't worry about my contract," Girardi said. "I worry about this year. I wouldn't expect them to talk to me about it till it's over."

Steinbrenner -- who effectively serves as the voice of ownership -- and Girardi were at Yankee Stadium for a news conference for recently acquired center fielder Curtis Granderson. Both said they have a mutual understanding.

"He knows we're proud of him," Steinbrenner said. "He knows the [Steinbrenner] family is proud of him. He knows it's a policy thing."

Said Girardi: "Hal and I have had great talks."

So does this mean that no talks will be held on a new contract until Girardi's current contract expires?

"I'll figure that out," Steinbrenner said.

And there's plenty of other business this winter for the Yankees, even after re-signing Andy Pettitte and trading for Granderson. The team seems intent to add a starting pitcher and another hitter.

"I don't believe we're done yet," Steinbrenner said. "Because I do believe there's a couple of areas we're still looking at.

"I guess we always worry about pitching. Every team does. [And] I still think we're looking, possibly, at another bat."

That hitter could be a DH type, replacing Hideki Matsui, but it won't be retaining Johnny Damon unless one side budges on salary. Based on Bobby Abreu's two-year, $19 million deal with the Angels, Damon is believed to be seeking $11 million a year. Yankees players have been lobbying for his return, but the Yankees don't want to spend that much on him.

"We all love Johnny Damon," Steinbrenner said, "and he was a big part of the reason we won that championship.

"But I think right now there's just a difference of opinion as to what the pay is, quite frankly."

Girardi said he would be comfortable with someone who serves as the DH for 140 or so games, allowing him to use the remaining games to give one his regulars a DH day as a break. The Yankees have been linked to free agent Nick Johnson, who could be signed for about $5 million.

"We would like to try to add another bat," Girardi said.

While the archrival Red Sox added John Lackey, the Yankees only need a No. 4 type pitcher. That would allow them to have Joba Chamberlain and Phil Hughes compete for the fifth spot, with the other helping in the bullpen.

Alex Rodriguez, also at the news conference, said he was told Monday by hip specialist Marc Philippon that he would not need follow-up surgery, as had originally been planned. A-Rod had the hip partially repaired in March, allowing him to miss only one month of the regular season instead of the four months the full procedure would cost him. But Rodriguez recovered well enough that he won't need an operation this winter.