Former Yankee manager to replace Little.

The Los Angeles Dodgers have signed former Yankee skipper Joe Torre to a three-year contract. The deal is worth an estimated $14.5 million.  Torre is expected to bring former Yankee coaches Don Mattingly and Larry Bowa to Los Angeles as well.

Torre turned down a one-year offer to remain with the Yankees after New York’s first round loss to the Cleveland Indians in the 2007 Playoffs.  Torre took over as Yankee’s manager in 1996.  In 12 seasons with New York, Torre won six American League Pennants and 4 World Series.  Torre was the 1996 and 1998 AL Manager of the Year.  Torre also never missed the Playoffs while managing the Yankees.

Torre has 26 years of managerial experience with the New York Mets, Atlanta Braves, St. Louis Cardinals, and the New York Yankees.  Torre has accumulated 2,067 wins as a manager, the eighth most ever, and is first in career postseason victories, with 76.

Torre also had an illustrious career on the field.  A career .297 hitter, Torre also had 252 Home Runs and 2,342 hits as a catcher and third baseman for the Milwaukee/Atlanta Braves, St. Louis Cardinals, and New York Mets.  Torre was the 1971 NL MVP while playing for the Cardinals.

Don Mattingly played for the Yankees for 14 seasons.  A nine-time Gold Glove winning first baseman, Mattingly won the 1985 AL MVP.  Mattingly was only the 10th Yankee captain, preceded by Ron Guidry and replaced by current captain Derek Jeter.

Bowa last managed the Philadelphia Phillies from 2001 through 2004, and joined the Yankees staff in 2006 as the third base coach.