Making The Call: Quiet Everyone

Jeter, via Martha Stewart

The Yankees and Derek Jeter are making a big mistake with the way they are handling the negotiations for a new deal. After Jeter’s agent, Casey Close, referred to the Yankees negotiating position as “baffling”, GM Brian Cashman responded with this gem of a quote:

"We've encouraged him to test the market and see if there's something he would prefer other than this. If he can, fine. That's the way it works."

It wasn’t exactly a “thank you for all you’ve done, Derek” and it made the Yankees look small. But, not to be outdone, word leaked from Jeter’s camp that the shortstop was seeking a six-year/$150 million deal. That was later amended down to somewhere around four or five years for “only” $23 or $24 million. Pretty good money for a guy coming off a year where he hit .270/.340/.370.

The fact is the Yankees need Derek Jeter at shortstop in 2011. There are no in-house candidates, Eduardo Nunez didn’t exactly set the world on fire at AAA this year, and the free agent pool is weak. Throw in the fact that barring injury, Jeter will become the first Yankee to get 3,000 hits in 2011 and his return should be assured.

But the Yankees’ problem is beyond 2011. Maybe Jeter’s 2010 campaign was an aberration and he will return to his prolific hitting ways next year, but what if he doesn’t. What if he is like 99% of the shortstops who came before him and plays progressively worse after age 36?

And Jeter is rightfully looking at all the mega-deals the Yankees have handed out and wondering why he isn’t worthy of one. He has always played hard, played hurt and he has never embarrassed the franchise. For fifteen seasons, Jeter has been a great ballplayer on the field and a great ambassador off of it.

What the two sides need to do is find the middle ground. A series of team and player options, triggered by certain performance levels would make the most sense. That followed by a personal services contract after Jeter’s playing days have ended would also probably ease the turmoil. Whatever approach they take, they would be smart to erect a “cone of silence” and keep everything out of the press from this point forward. Neither side will look very good if the current rhetoric continues.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Peter Trinkle in News on November 28, 2010 5:00 PM

Comments [rss]

Vincent

Jeter is rightfully looking at all the mega-deals the Yankees have handed out and wondering why he isn’t worthy of one.

1. He already had one. In 2010 he was the 8th best paid athlete in America, 2nd in baseball. He wasn't (and never has been) anywhere near the 2nd best player in baseball.

2. Just because the Yankees made a dumb move by signing A-Rod until he was 42, doesn't mean that they need to do it again.

3. Just off of salary (not including endorsements) he has made $205 million in his career - does he really need anything else?

4. I thought this dude was all about doing what was best for the team? Isn't that what everybody always praises him for? That and a little ballerina hop when he throws the ball...

ProcedureTurn

This guy Jeter should count huis lucky stars he even got paid what he did. Im tired ofthese overpaid stories. I hope Jeter takes a lot less than what he demands.

Brooklyn Book Worm

Gee, if the Yankees did not expect Jeter to be a legend, why did they give him the one available single-digit uniform number all those years back? He has an impeccable record of faultless public behavior, always reflecting favorably on the team. (Unlike, say, the egregiously overpaid ex-druggie A-Rod.) He has never been associated with any other team -- even as a kid, he wanted to play for the Yankees. The team surely wants his considerable PR skills even after his playing days end. Why are they mucking this up with a tacky public argument? I'l admit that $15-million is a lot for a 36-year-old shortstop, but is it really too much for the Captain of the New York Yankees? Given the team's history of flinging money around by the bushel-basket (Carl Pagano anyone?), I cannot understand why they're pinching pennies with Jeter.

ANGRYGOD11

Because next year he'll be 37. Where do you envision him playing if his shortstop skills deteriorate? There's a great firstbaseman with gold gloves and power. Jeter never had the power to be a great DH. Third and second are held by excellent players already. The outfield isn't the best place for an aging player and does he really have the arm for it?

Kevin Walsh

>>>And Jeter is rightfully looking at all the mega-deals the Yankees have handed out and wondering why he isn’t worthy of one.<<<

He just finished one that was suitable for a player in the prime of his career.

www.forgotten-ny.com

JenChungsBaby

Exactly. He just got done with a $185 million "mega" contract. But he's not worth that any longer. He needs the Yanks and the Yanks need him, so they'll come to some agreement, but the $15M/yr the Yanks are offering now is way more than fair. Let him go to Milwaukee if he doesn't like it.

(BTW, Gothamist -- comment editing is a bad bad idea. You should ditch that.)

jaycjay

"What the two sides need to do is find the middle ground."

Hmm... you might be on to something there. Two sides, getting together and working towards an agreement over a period of days or weeks... what could we call that? I know! Contract negotiations!

whitecastlerock

And Jeter is rightfully looking at all the mega-deals the Yankees have handed out and wondering why he isn’t worthy of one. Ummm has Jeter stated this somewhere?

HBHB

He's going to be pushing 37 by the start of the season. The team needs to look toward the future and start putting that money toward a couple new young shortstops.

ANGRYGOD11

There is no practical way to invest in new shortstops. You never know if a minor league prospect will work out or if that flashy and expensive free agent will be a disaster.