Baseball notebook: Offer insulted Torre

Joe Torre heard enough. He felt insulted. He felt unappreciated.

He won’t even set foot in Yankee Stadium anytime soon, not even to clean out his office.

“I walked out of there, I’m not going back,” he said. “I just leave the memories.”

A day after he turned down a one-year contract, convinced the team no longer was committed to him after 12 seasons and four World Series titles, he went out his way – grateful, yet defiant; respectful but hurt.

He didn’t say goodbye in Yankee Stadium. Instead, he spoke for 67 minutes in a hotel ballroom near his home in suburban New York.

He was coming off a $19.2 million, three-year contract that earned him $7.5 million this season, double what any other manager made. When he heard the offer – $5 million for next year and the chance to earn $3 million more in bonuses – he knew the team’s management wanted him to walk.

“An insult,” he said, his voice choking up at times.

“Hank Steinbrenner expects the Yankees to start interviews for Torre’s replacement next week.

Bench coach Don Mattingly is the leading contender to replace Torre. Yankees broadcaster Joe Girardi is another top candidate. Tony La Russa and Bobby Valentine also could be considered.

Clearing the bases

Trey Hillman was hired to take over a Royals team that hasn’t been to the playoffs since the late Dick Howser guided Kansas City to the 1985 World Series title. The 44-year-old Hillman has never played, coached or managed in the majors but was always successful as a minor league manager. His Nippon Ham Fighters are playing in the Japan Series for the second consecutive year. … Orlando Hernandez had surgery on his right foot and the New York Mets pitcher is expected to be ready for spring training. … Third baseman Corey Koskie became eligible for free agency when Milwaukee declined his $6.5 million option for 2008.