NEW YORK — Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman decided it “was time for a new voice and a fresh voice” in New York’s clubhouse after concluding Joe Girardi was not the right manager for a team that has reoriented toward youth.

New York announced Oct. 26 that Girardi would not be offered a new contract, ending a 10-year run that ended when the Yankees lost Game 7 of the AL Championship Series to Houston, the eventual World Series champion.

Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman, right, said former manager Joe Girardi, left, may have faced hurdles communicating with his players after 10 years on the job. Associated Press/Kathy Willens

“The issue and the concerns were,” Cashman said, “ability to fully engage, communicate, connect with the playing personnel. And in saying that there might be a tough hurdle for someone that’s been in that particular position as a manager for 10 years.”

The GM said he doesn’t have a timetable for a decision on a replacement and plans to interview candidates from both inside and outside the organization.

Cashman said he informed owner Hal Steinbrenner of his Girardi analysis on Oct. 23, two days after New York’s season ended. Cashman met Girardi the next day.

“I made that recommendation based on … some experiences that I was able to validate, whether it’s directly or indirectly about the connectivity and the communication level with the players in that clubhouse,” Cashman said in his first comments about the decision.

INDIANS: Cleveland made a $17.4 million qualifying offer to free agent first baseman Carlos Santana. One of six Cleveland players eligible for free agency, Santana has 10 days to accept or reject the club’s offer. If Santana takes it, he will make $17.4 million next season. If he turns down the offer and decides to sign elsewhere, the Indians will receive draft compensation.

RANGERS: Texas declined its 2018 club options for slugger Mike Napoli and reliever Tony Barnette, and won’t make a $17.4 million qualifying offer to free agent pitcher Andrew Cashner.

Texas did exercise its club option on 13-game winner Martin Perez, a 26-year-old left-hander.

RAYS: Tampa Bay exercised a $2 million club option for next season on pitcher Nathan Eovaldi. The right-hander missed all of last season while recovering from Tommy John surgery in August 2016.

BLUE JAYS: Jose Bautista’s $17.5 million option has been declined by Toronto, which will pay a $500,000 buyout.

A three-time All-Star who spent 10 years with the Blue Jays, Bautista hit .203 this year with 23 homers, 65 RBI and a franchise-record 170 strikeouts.

CARDINALS: St. Louis released veteran right-hander Trevor Rosenthal and extended a qualifying offer to pitcher Lance Lynn.

Rosenthal, 27, had Tommy John surgery this summer and could miss the entire 2018 season.

CUBS: Chicago extended qualifying offers to pitchers Jake Arrieta and Wade Davis, ensuring it will receive draft pick compensation if they sign with another team. Chicago also claimed right-hander Cory Mazzoni off waivers from San Diego.

GIANTS: Madison Bumgarner’s $12 million option for the 2018 season was exercised by San Francisco. The Giants locked up Bumgarner long term in April 2012 on a $35.56 million, six-year contract through this year.

NATIONALS: Catcher Matt Wieters is exercising his $10.5 million contract option for next season.

ROCKIES: All-Star closer Greg Holland has become a free agent after declining to exercise his $15 million player option.

AWARDS: Red Sox starting pitcher Chris Sale is a finalist for the American League Cy Young award and teammate Andrew Benintendi is in the running for the AL Rookie of the Year.

Finalists for Cy Young, MVP, Rookie of the Year and Manager of the Year in both leagues were announced.

Sale went 17-8 with a 2.90 ERA and 308 strikeouts in his first season with the Red Sox. The other finalists in the AL are Cleveland’s Corey Kluber and New York’s Luis Severino.

Benintendi, meanwhile, finished his first full season in the majors with a .271 batting average, 20 home runs and 90 RBI in 151 games. New York’s Aaron Judge, who hit 56 home runs and is also a finalist for the AL MVP award, and Baltimore’s Trey Manchini are the other finalists.

Judge is joined by Houston’s Jose Altuve and Cleveland’s Jose Ramirez as AL MVP finalists. Arizona’s Paul Goldschmidt, Miami’s Giancarlo Stanton and Cincinnati’s Joey Votto are the NL finalists.

Two Washington pitchers, Stephen Strasburg and Max Schrezer are finalists for NL Cy Young Award along with the Dodgers’ Clayton Kershaw. Pittsburgh’s Josh Bell, L.A.’s Cody Bellinger and St. Louis’ Paul DeJong are the NL Rookie of the Year finalists.

In the American League, Cleveland’s Terry Francona, Minnesota’s Paul Molitor and Houston’s A.J. Hinch are the Manager of the Year finalists, while in the NL Colorado’s Bud Black, Arizona’s Torey Lovullo and the Dodgers’ Dave Roberts are the finalists.

The winners will be announced next week.

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