LOS ANGELES — Part of the discussion about whether Joe Girardi should be retained — assuming he wants to be back — must revolve around whom the Yankees see as the optimum manager for the next three to five years.

The near future looks promising for the organization. They put a cornerstone down with a good young core that went to ALCS Game 7 this year, have more well-regarded prospects coming and are potentially a year away from tremendous financial flexibility — just in time for what is expected to be a starry free-agent class.

To manage that group, the Yanks would probably love to have their own A.J. Hinch or Dave Roberts. Someone young, bright, media-friendly, energetic, charismatic, positive and able to incorporate analytics and build strong clubhouse bonds simultaneously.

But here is the thing: Maybe you get Hinch or Roberts. Or maybe you get Brad Ausmus or Matt Williams, who seemed like good ideas at the time, but underwhelmed or worse.

The Yankees obviously don’t want to do anything to impede the skill of this precocious roster.

Whatever Girardi’s faults, he has proven a capable major league manager. You might not love the pilot. But he will land the planes, making up for many shortcomings with work ethic and conviction.

This is the Yankees’ dilemma. They are at the outset of what seems to be something special, and they probably have some legitimate worries about whether Girardi is near burnout and/or his message has begun to be shut out after a decade at the helm. Conversely, is someone internal such as Josh Paul or Rob Thomson capable of sitting in the big chair? Kevin Long?

Brian Cashman’s preference in a manager is someone with whom he has a pre-existing relationship — he interviewed Girardi, Don Mattingly and Tony Pena last time, all employed by the Yankees or their network. He believes the stresses on the relationship are such and the need to communicate so regularly vital that the bond must be strong between GM and manager.

There are those in the game who suggest the tie between Girardi and Cashman has frayed without severing. Cashman is expected to sign a new contract in the coming days to stay as GM — “a slam dunk,” said an executive with ties to the Yankees. A Girardi re-signing is not as certain.

What is interesting is that from 2013 to 2016, the Yankees roster was at times dubious, but the team always won between 84 and 87 games, the talent overachieving. This year they won 91 games, but that was less than the sum of the parts — the first time perhaps as Yankee manager that Girardi did not come close at least to maximizing the Yankees’ win total.

Is that a sign of diminishing returns with Girardi and that it is time to bail? After all of the years in the job, he still has yet to learn not to portray the tension of the moment in his bearing. There always is worry about that transferring to players, particularly younger players — though with their “Toe-night Show” and thumbs down and general vivaciousness, the 2017 group appeared unified and upbeat.

When it comes to Girardi, his players have always sidled more toward respect for his toil and knowledge than having strong ties of kinship. Players have complained privately over the years about how tense Girardi is, how his worker-ant penchant can grind poorly on a team and that his emotions can U-turn quickly from happiness to fury — and apparently members of the front office have felt that as well.

But there are no perfect managers. And whatever his faults, Girardi has produced a winning record every year, knows how to manage a season from pitchers and catchers to the end of October. There have been theories that perhaps he wants to see his son play high school baseball in Florida and/or just step away from the pressure.

That would be his call. What becomes more interesting is if he wants to stay — then what is the Yankees’ move?

With their brimming talent and readiness to win, do the Yanks still see Girardi as a steward of excellence not just now, but for the next three to five years?

It is the question of today with huge implications for the future.