Girardi gets three-year deal to manage the Yankees

Joe Girardi on Tuesday agreed to a three-year contract to manage the New York Yankees and a mandate to deliver World Series championship No. 27 to the club.

“I expect to be playing in the fall classic next October. I think that’s everyone’s expectation,� Girardi said.

Girardi’s deal is worth $7.8 million, a person familiar with the agreement said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Girardi was the 2006 National League manager of the year with Florida.

The former catcher played on three Yankees teams that won the World Series, served as bench coach under Joe Torre in 2005 and was a TV announcer for the YES network in 2004 and this year.

New York made the playoffs in all 12 years under Torre, who won the World Series in four of his first five seasons.

Torre turned down an incentive-laden one-year, $5-million offer Oct. 18 to return as Yankees manager.

“Joe Girardi is without question the right man for the job,� said Brian Cashman, Yankees general manager.

Boston pitcher Curt Schilling filed for free agency and said in a radio interview that “a one-year deal is all I’m looking for.�

Schilling, 40, was 9-8 with a 3.87 earned-run average and 3-0 with a 3.00 ERA in the postseason.

“I actually broke out a pen and paper the last couple days and wrote letters to some people here, just to say goodbye,� Schilling said. “There’s a very realistic chance I won’t ever play with them again.�

Houston re-signed catcher Brad Ausmus, 38, to a $2 million, one-year contract. . . . Milwaukee declined a $9-million option on Geoff Jenkins, who platooned in left field with Kevin Mench. . . . Kansas City declined a $9-million option on Odalis Perez and fellow pitcher David Riske turned down his $2.9-million player option. Designated hitter Mike Sweeney told the Royals he plans to file for free agency.