The New York Yankees decided to part ways with Joe Girardi because Brian Cashman felt the manager's "connectivity" with the clubhouse was not good enough.
"That's the primary position," Cashman said.
The general manager said it would have been easy to "plug and play" and stay with Girardi after a decade that included a World Series title and six playoff appearances.
The Yankees placed a huge focus on the manager's connection with the team's players as they move into their next phase of their youth movement led by Aaron Judge, Gary Sanchez and others.