NY Post JOE TORRE TO MANAGE DODGERS AGREES TO 3-YEAR,$14.5M DEAL By GEORGE KING Joe Torre has agreed in principle to manage the Dodgers October 30, 2007 -- Joe Torre has agreed in principle to manage the Los Angeles Dodgers, The Post has learned. Torre will accept a three-year deal worth $14.5 million to take over the club. Grady Little resigned as Dodgers manager today, paving the way for Torre to replace him. On Oct. 18, Torre, 67, rejected a one-year, $5 million contract offer with performance-based incentives to return to the Yankees. Little, 57, leaves with one year remaining on his contract plus a club option for 2009. Team owner Frank McCourt said on the season's final day that Little would return next year. "I've got my own personal reasons," Little said. "It was a mutual resignation." Don Mattingly has been mentioned as a possible bench coach under Torre in L.A. Mattingly served in a similar capacity wit hthe Yankees and was interviewed to succeed Torre as manager. Instead, Joe Girardi was hired. "I haven't seen that Joe's managing anywhere or going anywhere, so it's hard for me to answer that question. It's not a situation that I'm prepared to talk about," Mattingly said during a conference call. But he didn't rule out that scenario. "I think everyone knows how I feel about Joe. I have a ton of respect. He's helped me in so many different ways," Mattingly said. "If something would happen with Joe and he would want me to be a part of that, I'll make that decision." Mattingly's son, Preston, is a minor leaguer in the Dodgers' organization. Torre managed the Yankees to four World Series championships and 12 playoff appearances in as many seasons. Torre, who completed a three-year, $19.2 million contract this year, ranks eighth on baseball's career list with 2,067 victories and has won a record 76 postseason games.
