Let's the rumors commence: Joe Torre denies showing interest in managing Mets

What took so long?

About three seconds after Joe Torre announced he would not return to manage the Dodgers next season, the New York Post wrote that one of his close friends said he’d be interested in managing the Mets.

Torre very carefully announced when he was done managing the Dodgers that he was unlikely to manage anywhere else. Which is a tad different that simply saying he was through managing.

Torre, of course, knew how people would react to that, but Sunday called The Post report irresponsible.

"There’s absolutely no legs to this story," Torre said. "I’ve had absolutely no conversation of any kind, and nobody I know has had a conversation of any kind."

And not just with the Mets.

"With anybody," he said.

Torre started his 29-year managerial career with the Mets in 1977. They fired him after five losing seasons.

Torre said he is uncertain what he will do next. He hopes to take a week off in Hawaii, and in the short term dedicate more time to his Safe at Home Foundation. He also plans to join his successor, Don Mattingly, for a week during his stint managing the Dodgers team in the Arizona Instructional League.

-- Steve Dilbeck

Photo: Joe Torre. Credit: Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times

Comments

[skyharbor]

Joe Torre denied a quote attributed to him awhile back that "Working for Frank McCourt is a living hell" and while he may not have uttered those words it is clearly written all over his face. Most of us don't quit jobs...we quit bosses. Joe is no different and I look for him to continue his winning ways wherever he goes and whatever he does

[alanw19]

Whether its true or not doesn't matter. What matters is the Dodgers. Torre isn't managing our team next year, so best of luck to him in whatever he does.

There's no hard feelings toward him. I was glad we got him when we did and think he helped us get to the playoffs. I like many, however, think it is possible his timing for the Dodgers has run its course. I also hate it for him that he got mixed up into an organization with front office embarrassment, especially when that's what he left behind in Gotham. The difference is he knew it going in there in the 1990s and accepted it, in LA he had left it behind and then it kept creeping up and finally blew out of proportion.

If he's with the Dodgers in some other role, great - he's got a ton of baseball experience and was one heckuva player that I well remember watching play. His knowledge could provide something for the organization in some kind of role.