NEW YORK -- Joe Girardi is back in the Yankees family, but he won't be wearing pinstripes.
Girardi was introduced as the newest member of the YES Network broadcast team on Monday, as he returns to the network as a game analyst. Girardi spent the 2004 season with YES before taking a job as Joe Torre's bench coach in 2005 and becoming the Marlins manager in 2006.
After being let go by Florida following the season, Girardi interviewed for the Nationals' managerial opening before removing himself from consideration.
"I thought it was best, at this time in my life, to go back to broadcasting," Girardi said. "I enjoy the challenges of broadcasting and I enjoy the challenges of managing. ... We had a lot of discussions with the Nationals, but I felt it just wasn't the right timing for my family and I. I loved managing, but it wasn't the right timing."
Girardi joins John Flaherty, Al Leiter and Paul O'Neill as game analysts for YES, while Michael Kay and Ken Singleton will return to handle play-by-play duties. Girardi will work approximately 60 games in 2007.
Girardi and Flaherty will also co-host "Behind the Plate," a new series on the network which will look at the game of baseball from the viewpoint of two former catchers.
Girardi wants to manage in the Majors again at some point, but he doesn't plan on jumping ship in the middle of the season if an opportunity presents itself. That said, he wouldn't rule anything out.