Monday, November 29, 2010
The Derek Jeter saga, fit for the stage of New York City, keeps getting better and better.
There’s not a single more polarizing team in the MLB (and arguably all of sports) than the Yankees; barring a lack of interest, anyone you ask will have a strong opinion either way about the 27-time World Series champions. Professionalism prevents me from saying much more than the Yankees are NOT my favorite team.
Having said that, the contract negotiations between the organization and Jeter, who is the modern face of the Yankees, have been nothing short of perplexing. I just can’t understand how a team as notorious for spending money as the Yankees won’t spend it on their best player for the last 14 years.
Jeter has to be regarded separately from other Yankees today, minus Mariano Rivera, because of their tenure. New York is one of the most difficult stages to perform on, and a lot of great players haven’t been able to live up to the city’s standards. And since 1996, Jeter has done nothing but shine.
He’s played at least 148 games in all but one (2003) season since his official rookie season in 1996. This past year, he hit a career-worst .270 — 21 points lower than his previous worst and still the same average as his teammate, Alex Rodriguez. He’s won five Gold Glove awards, been voted to 11 All-Star teams and was the World Series MVP in 2000. Jeter’s been the Yankees shortstop for seven titles. And yet the Yankees won’t pony up to his contract requests, with the latest Yankee offer including a suggestion to Jeter and his agent to take a “reality potion” concerning the negotiations.
Jeter is reportedly seeking more years and more money per year than the offer on the table, a three-year, $45 million contract to follow up the 10-year, $189 million contract that expired after the 2010 season ended. Given my feelings toward the Yankees, I wouldn’t mind seeing Jeter explore free agency and find a team willing to meet his demands (Detroit would make sense, and how great would it be to see number 2 in Boston next year?).
Regardless of the team he plays for, Jeter demands respect for what he’s done on the field.
But, if they Yankees continue to withhold respect from Jeter, they seem content with letting go of possibly the most iconic major leaguer of my lifetime.
— Edited by Emily McCoy.
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