Just-retired Beltran interviews to become Yankees manager
NEW YORK — Exactly four weeks after winning his first World Series title on his final day as a major league player, Carlos Beltran walked into Yankee Stadium for his interview to become New York’s manager.
“I never thought that this moment was going to come this soon after retirement,” he said Wednesday. “I thought that I was going to be able to spend a little time with the family, but the fact that I got the call to be interviewed, this is something that you cannot turn away from it, because these type of opportunities, especially the one with the Yankees, they don’t come very often.”
The 40-year-old was a nine-time All-Star who hit 435 home runs over 20 big league seasons and spent half his career in New York — including 2 1/2 years with the Yankees from 2014-16. Having interviewed five candidates earlier this month to replace Joe Girardi, New York general manager Brian Cashman called Beltran on Sunday.
“At the beginning it’s a little bit overwhelming. There’s a lot of information that you have to digest,” Beltran said. “Being a player and being able to play this game for such a long time, I have seen a lot, and I have seen the importance of what players need in the clubhouse, especially this clubhouse, where you see a lot of younger guys.”