Via Joel Sherman -
Which brings us to Derek Jeter, the Yankees and the union we once assumed was unbreakable. But if Favre started for the Jets last night, we must consider what not long ago would have been unthinkable. Jeter looks in decline. The Yanks look as if they want to get younger and – when possible – less expensive. And suddenly that expiring contract after the 2010 season becomes the elephant in the room of the Yankees’ future.
Because Jeter is no more associated with the Yankees than Favre was with the Packers. If that marriage can end in such a nasty divorce, don’t we at least have to consider that it can happen with Jeter and the Yanks – at least this version of the Yanks?
The involved parties, as you would expect, treated the subject like plutonium. Jeter told The Post’s George King that he did not follow the Favre situation “very closely” and that he hasn’t thought about his next contract. Sure he hasn’t. Jeter’s long-time agent, Casey Close, refused to discuss the matter, saying, “It is far too premature to answer that.”
Yankees GM Brian Cashman said, “Who is to predict how things take place? We have problems in the present to deal with. Trying to anticipate the future is a waste of time and energy right now.”
I know…anything is possible…the Yankees once traded Bobby Murcer…and he was the home-grown face of the franchise at that time…
But, as great as Murcer was at the time of that trade, with all due respect to Bobby, he did not have the resume that Derek Jeter has put together in the Bronx.
It’s going to be an interesting situation in Yankeeland when Jeter’s contract is up.
My gut feeling? The Yankees will use Jeter’s desire to be in New York and his diminishing skills/value at contract time as leverage to move him off short and to get his annual salary down to the range of $15 million a season. And, they’ll work out some sort of an agreement.
All things considered, Jeter will not have much of a hammer in his corner for this round. But, if the Yankees pull a Packers/Favre move on this one, unless Derek’s game is completely gone, they will get killed by the media and fans. So, somehow, this thing will work out where Jeter stays in New York.
24 Responses to “Sherman: Could This Be Jeter’s Last Deal In N.Y.?”
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August 17th, 2008 at 11:29 am
You mean the way they got Posada and Mo at fair salaries? The problem is that the timing of these contracts was right only with Bernie. You could argue that the team would have been better off without him sooner, but Bernie’s declining skills were obvious to even his biggest fans. Contract expired – no new contract, and no serious interest from anyone else. Bernie’s not happy and holds a grudge an astounding length of time but c’est la vie. The team wasn’t in a position where one of its “favorite sons” went somewhere else and played well. Bernie went home and played his version of “jazz”.
But when Derek’s contract expires, he’ll be nearing the 3000 hit mark, and by modern standards, be expected to play several more seasons. Do you think this negotiation will go on in a vacuum? Did the negotiations with Posada and Mo go on in a vacuum? No, they knew where they stood and they used that position to get the maximum years and dollars.
I’ll say it again: Derek, the face of the team, the link to the most recent glory years, and about to reach statistical achievements that guarantee “immortality” will not be allowed to go anywhere. And he will use that knowledge to get as much money as he wants. No ifs ands or buts.
August 17th, 2008 at 12:52 pm
I am a simple Yankees fan. I don’t want to see Jeter wearing another uniform.
August 17th, 2008 at 4:41 pm
Let him walk after 2010. He won’t be worth much as a SS in 2011, so what value does he really have to the Yankees? They’ll sell just as many tickets without him.
The lesson should be learned with the absurd Posada signing.
The organization owes Jeter nothing. Aging stars in Jeter, Alex and Posada could make 2011 a very bad year, especially with Mariano likely retired. At least by not signing Jeter they’ll reduce that by one.
The Yankees don’t need a Cal Ripken, Jr. experience. Besides, they’ll have that with Alex.
August 17th, 2008 at 4:52 pm
Could you imagine Mickey wearing another uniform??? Or DiMaggio?? Or even Munson??
I think not. Derek Jeter wearing another uniform would be an absolute disgrace. Period.
August 17th, 2008 at 5:58 pm
Let’s look it this from the other side, shall we? You’re the general manager of another MLB team. At the end of the 2010 season Derek Jeter is 36 years old; probably at that juncture a .280 hitter with little power who doesn’t walk or steal bases all that much anymore. His defensive skills, never top drawer, have declined even more; so much that you really can’t afford to play him at shortstop. Maybe thirdbase, maybe leftfield. Now he’s available, looking for, say, a three year deal for $50-$55 million. Are you interested?
August 17th, 2008 at 6:42 pm
jeter will be over .300 by next week and you all will be singing different tunes. With that being said, I always put jeter in the class of cal ripken. Good, but not what everyone makes him out to be…that is, in the regular season.
August 17th, 2008 at 8:27 pm
Let’s look it this from the other side, shall we? You’re the general manager of another MLB team. At the end of the 2010 season Derek Jeter is 36 years old; probably at that juncture a .280 hitter with little power who doesn’t walk or steal bases all that much anymore. His defensive skills, never top drawer, have declined even more; so much that you really can’t afford to play him at shortstop. Maybe thirdbase, maybe leftfield. Now he’s available, looking for, say, a three year deal for $50-$55 million. Are you interested?
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The implication seems to be that other GMs wouldn’t be interested and therefore the Yankees can choose what they pay him and for how long, but you forget that there is a GM over the river who will have no problem giving Derek what he wants in order to get a chance to fill his stadium while he chases 3000 hits and whatever other historical marks he accomplishes.
August 17th, 2008 at 8:48 pm
Bobby Murcer? Don Mattingly? They were roses upon a dungheap. For the most part, Murcer and Mattingly are not associated with a Yankee Golden Age but rather what I call some relative Dark ages. Jeter is a different animal altogether. He represents the multiple World Series wins and winningess of the last 13 years. IN short, Jeter is the Golden boy of the new Yankee era. New skool Yankee fans have seen Jeter become the face of the franchise and there is very little chance that he is going anywhere else.
Once was, I don’t think Omar would pay 15 million dollars for an aging superstar that Met fans would continually refer to as Mr Yankee! I have seen Omar make some unintelligent moves BUT that would be too much. On the other hand,someone out west named Colletti might make such a move……..
August 17th, 2008 at 9:12 pm
Fair point, OnceIwas, and I have only two problems with it: First, where would the Mets play Jeter? Not at shortstop, not at thirdbase; so I’m thinking he’d be their leftfielder. Okay, if you can live with a leftfielder with a .750 to .775 OPS for that much money. I couldn’t myself. My second problem has to do with the assertion that Derek Jeter would “fill your stadium while he chases 3000 hits, etc.” I tend to doubt that. I know I wouldn’t abandon the Yankees for the Mets just because Derek Jeter switched home boroughs; and I don’t believe many others would. Yes, there would be an attendance spike just as Jeter reaches and passes 3000, but it wouldn’t last and, considering Jeter’s decline in productivity, any increases at the turnstiles would be negliable when weighed against his contract.
August 17th, 2008 at 9:29 pm
Four hits today for the Captain. Avg. up to .295. Does anyone really think that Jeter’s career with the Yanks will not have a storybook ending?
August 18th, 2008 at 12:01 am
Posada, at least, got that contract because he had just had his best season ever. If that’s what happens with Jeter, let me be the first to say yes please.
August 18th, 2008 at 1:43 am
The Yankees don’t need a Cal Ripken, Jr. experience. Besides, they’ll have that with Alex.
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He already moved to 3b
Could you imagine Mickey wearing another uniform??? Or DiMaggio?? Or even Munson??
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Or Babe Ruth??
August 18th, 2008 at 3:36 am
Or Babe Ruth??
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Touche!
August 18th, 2008 at 3:41 am
There’s no **disgrace** in the organization wising up and saying thanks for the memories to an aging Jeter.
They overpaid an aging catcher, who’s first year of a four year deal (which no other team was ofering) has been a complete bust and who will turn 38 in 2009.
As for my Cal Ripken, Jr. comment — it became so painfully obvious for years that what was sgood for Cal wasn’t good for the team. The O’s put themselves into a terrible position with that stupid streak. It became all about Cal and the streak. This is the New York Yankees, where it should be all about winning.
August 18th, 2008 at 7:50 am
http://tinyurl.com/66gh54
August 18th, 2008 at 9:32 am
But, as great as Murcer was at the time of that trade, with all due respect to Bobby, he did not have the resume that Derek Jeter has put together in the Bronx.
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Resume, schmesume. Jeter’s not getting any better. Even a “reasonable” $15M contract makes no sense for him. If he wants to be bitter like Bernie, let him. The team shouldn’t be held hostage by any one player, even if it is Derek Jeter. His contributions to those great teams of 10 years ago are appreciated and he’ll have his number retired someday. But it’s a business and the Yanks need to move on.
August 18th, 2008 at 10:24 am
Most Yankee greats that come through the system only ever played in one uniform once they reached the Major Leagues.
Anyway, who is going to replace him while we are at it?
Anybody that is playing now?
August 18th, 2008 at 10:34 am
But it’s a business and the Yanks need to move on.
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I agree. He owes the organization nothing, the organization owes him nothing. It would be nice if they both had a mutually beneficial relationship, but even if he does play for another team, it will not diminish his accomplishments as a Yankee, any more than Babe Ruth’s time with the Braves did.
August 18th, 2008 at 11:45 am
but even if he does play for another team, it will not diminish his accomplishments as a Yankee, any more than Babe Ruth’s time with the Braves did.
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Exactly. Brett Favre will still be a Packer when he goes into the Hall of Fame, just as Joe Montana will always be remembered as a member of the 49ers. Same for Jeter, no matter where he ends up.
August 18th, 2008 at 1:10 pm
I can imagine it now…Jeter doing his Wade Boggs moment on a horse going around Fenway in a Red Sox uniform.
August 18th, 2008 at 1:33 pm
FYI..
Jeter since the All-Star Break:
.328/.389/.431/.820
Jeter in August:
.393/.443/.459/.902
August 22nd, 2008 at 2:15 pm
Just look at all the reasoning behind signing jeter…. NOTHING to do with PERFORMANCE. so even the ones that say resign him dont think he is any good. Time for him to go…
In response to the post about having a GM across the river that really wants jeter… what river??
Maybe for 3yrs 21 MM he can play 2nd base for us
August 22nd, 2008 at 2:52 pm
The Yanks dont owe anything to DJ. after 2010, they’ll have paid him over $150 million. he’ll be in the HOF, his number will be retired. he shouldn’t expect any special treatment.
August 22nd, 2008 at 4:28 pm
Money isn’t much of an issue with the Yankees – especially with the new stadium – so let’s forget that being a reason they don’t keep him.
Talent? Jeter is currently 7th among SS in the majors in Runs Scored. And, as we’ve seen so much this season, that’s not due to the Yankees prolific offense. He’s also 3rd in RBIs, 7th in AVG (SS’s over 250ABs)and 6th in OBP. And he’s having what everyone considers a down year….
Over the next few years, his skills will more than likely decline – but not to the point where the Yankees will get rid of him. He’ll move down the line up perhaps. Maybe even a position change. Ultimately, however, he’ll be a Yankee for life – regardless if there’s a discount or he asks full price.