Joe Torre deserved better.

He deserved more than being forced to take a two and a half hour flight to Tampa, just to be told he is welcome to come back, but must take a pay cut.

And, oh yeah, it’s a one-year guaranteed offer, so next year you might have to twist in the wind again.

So, there was no doubt the dignified skipper of the Yankees said no thanks and parted ways with the Bombers.

The Yankees got what they deserved.

After 12 years of October baseball, the team now has to look for a new manager, one who gets the respect of the players, fans and media and one who will keep the Steinbrenners at bay.

Good luck with that.

Taking the grass is greener approach, the Yankee brass figured it was time to part ways with their venerable manager. Giving him an offer which could be considered a slap in the face, Torre decided to move on rather than be “motivated” in October by million dollar bonuses. And this coming from a team that’s contemplating giving Alex Rodriguez $30 million a year and Mariano Rivera close to $20 million a season this offseason.

But this wasn’t about money. It was about respect and Torre didn’t get it from the Steinbrenners and the rest of the Yankee brass, who let him twist in the wind for 10 days.

Now they have to find a new manager. And who could do this job better than Torre?

Sure you have Don Mattingly, but he has no managerial experience and is tepid about taking the job. And if Donnie Baseball gets the position, what if he fails? Do you fire him and risk alienating one of the Yankee heroes of the 1980s?

Joe Girardi is also available, and he did more with less down in Florida for the 2006 season, even earning Manager of the Year. But this Joe dealt with rookies and other young players, not the high priced veterans. It’s not known if his style, which got him fired, will translate with the Yankees.

And if not them then whom? Bobby Valentine? Sure he can win and can handle New York, but the Bronx is not as forgiving as Flushing. If Bobby V. comes back will he mesh with the players or alienate the key ones like he did in Queens.

Or how about Tony LaRussa? The reporters will love him and his huggable manner. Every press conference will be treated like a deposition and forget about second guessing “The Genius” because he’s never wrong.

Then there are coaches like Larry Bowa and Tony Pena, both of whom are capable, but neither gets the blood rushing.

So, Torre was the best man for the job and in reality, the Yankees should have made a change last season while Lou Piniella was available if they wanted someone who can handle the job. Now, though, neither is available and the Bombers will look elsewhere.

As for the venerable skipper, let’s hope he gets a new managerial gig soon and hopefully one close to New York. Nothing will be better than having the Yankees be reminded of their mistake, while trying to solve a new set of problems, ones which should never have happened if they treated Torre with respect.