The wallet will open for Derek Jeter
February 4, 2010, 5:35 pm by iYankees · 21 Comments
After the World Series is over and a victor is crowned, the Yankees will be faced with the awkward situation that is Derek Jeter’s free agency. Of course, the Yankees will work to re-sign Jeter, who is the the face of New York’s multimillion dollar franchise, however, that is not where the awkwardness lies. Instead, the uncomfortableness stems from being tasked with diplomatically assessing Jeter’s value at the age of 36, and beyond, and then offering the annual All-Star a proposal that hopefully meets his own individual view of his worth in relation to the franchise. With the fans waiting with baited breathe to see what occurs, that can be, as I said, an awkward, if not difficult, situation.
There is one way around that, though—just pay Jeter pretty much whatever he desires as long as it’s not cartoonish in nature. As I have stated in the past (just recently, even), such an approach is a distinctly dangerous and financially frivolous way to do business, nonetheless, it appears as though the Yankees will be susceptible to this kind of thinking, as Jeter’s history with the team may not allow them any formal advantage in their negotiations (assuming Jeter’s overall production does not nosedive this season). I arrive at this conclusion based on Hank Steinbrenner’s recent conversation with the Daily News. When asked about Jeter’s looming free agency, Hank replied, “We’ll get into all of that eventually. Jeter’s place in Yankee history is obvious, so I think you can pretty much assume from there.” The underlying message is pretty clear, right? And this is not the first time mini-George has indicated the Yankees’ “give him what he wants” approach once Jeter’s current ten-year contract finally expires. In February of 2008, Hank also said, with regards to Jeter’s free agency, “Obviously, Derek will always be special to us and will be taken care of.”
If one factors the not-so-subtle hints as well as the mammoth contracts awarded to Jorge Posada and Mariano Rivera once they became free agents, I think it is safe to assume that Jeter could receive an enormous payday next winter.
Photo by Getty Images
The Yanks have no choice but to pay him – Jeter playing anywhere but NY in 2011 would be a public relations nightmare of catastrophic proportions for the Yankees, so whether it makes sense or not, he’ll get what he wants, whatever it is.
In the end, the Yankees will pay Jeter one of two ways:
- Willingly
or
- Unwillingly
Jeter will be about 90 hits shy of 3000 at the end of 2010 with a shot at 4000 in his career. He is a first ballot Hall of Famer. Jeter is smart, and if it is at all possible he will structure his next deal in such a way that a front office role is part of the deal after his career is over, which is what he really wants. He’s always talked about owning a club someday, and can you imagine the marketing potential of the Yankees with him as a minority owner?
Like or Dislike:
3 
1
Ernie,….I almost agree with everything above. The minority thing was not necessary. Minority got you Obama, happy with that?
Like or Dislike:
2 
3
By minority, I didn’t mean “race”….I meant, since the family was owned by the Steinbrenners, he would be only be offered a small piece….a “minority share.” Sorry if I didn’t make that clear. I am no racist.
Like or Dislike:
4 
0
Ernie, I think it was very clear what you meant, lol. No worries.
Like or Dislike:
2 
0
Just making sure. I suppose I could have worded it better…I didn’t want to offend anyone. I am not here to make enemies.
Like or Dislike:
3 
0
You’re good. No worries. I’ll vouch for you since I’m brown, ha.
Like or Dislike:
2 
0
Thanks for watching my back…I have enough trouble defending my opinions about baseball…!
Like or Dislike:
2 
0
Probably the best article I have read so far on this site. Nice Read.
Like or Dislike:
2 
0
Jeter is getting a BIG pay cut. I doubt he gets a penny more then 15 million on a 1 year deal with a team option for the same amount going forward.
Like or Dislike:
1 
6
I disagree. Why would he only get a 1 year deal when Posada & Mo got multi-year deals at similar ages? Yanks will do right by Jeter not only because he is an all-time great, Captain, and face of franchise and MLB – but he is also still the best SS in the AL and showing no signs of slowing down. He’ll get as many years as he wants. My best guess is Jeter will look for a 4 or 5 yr deal and he’ll probably get about $17-18 mil per season.
At 36 Posada got 4 yrs – $52mil
At 38 Mariano got 3 yrs – $45 mil
At 36 Jeter gets what?
Like or Dislike:
5 
0
at 36 Jeter get 4yrs – 60mil is my guess.
my thought is that he will not play SS all of those seasons and move into a RF/DH role.
Like or Dislike:
1 
1
Who gives a damn about what Jeter has done in the past! You pay for what someone is going to do going forward and he will NEVER get what you suggest. The Yankees are going to do everything possible to get as close to the 177 million dollar luxury tax threshold for 2011. This means Jeter is getting a paycut whether he likes it or not. There is NO team in baseball willing to pay Jeter more then 15 million dollars. When Mo an Po signed there deals the economy was better.
There is nothing wrong with going year to year with team options.
Like or Dislike:
0 
2
Based on the 09 season I would say 4 years 80 MIL.That could change if 2010 doesn’t go well.That said imo money will never be an issue between Jete or Yanks.I also agree with my man Ernie that Jeter will someday own a piece of the Yankees.Jeter in the front office will be a tremendous plus for the future of the Yankee organization.
Like or Dislike:
2 
0
Thanks for the shoutout BP.
Jeter will get more from tha Yanks than he will from anyone else for several reasons:
1. No one else will bother bidding, because every other team knows that the Yanks would have a public relations nightmare if Jeter doesn’t sign with the Yanks;
2. The fan base in NY would be 98% in Jeter’s corner if it came down to a contract dispute between the Yanks and Jeter – the Yanks would lose public support BIG TIME;
3. Throw all the other arguments out the window: his age, luxury tax, salary cap, whatever – the Yanks not signing Jeter would be a MONUMENTAL failure of the Yankee front office;
4. Jeter knows this, and this is why I think he will parlay his “4 aces” into a part-ownership role in the team for the future. In that way, everybody wins….
My only assumption with Rooster’s posts is that he is trying to stir the pot, as you say.
Like or Dislike:
2 
0
Well put Ernie,couldn’t have said it better myself.
Like or Dislike:
2 
0
ROOSTER whats your reasoning?Maybe your trying to stir the pot?
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Rooster,whats your reasoning?Maybe your stiring the pot.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
The other point I negleted to make is this: Jeter knows he is in the driver’s seat in the upcoming negotiation…but he has no desire to humble or humiliate the Yankees. I think he wants to play out his career with the Yankees, and I think that’s what the Yankees want. I think he wants to promote goodwill between himself and the Yankees as he always has, so that when the negotiations are done, everyone will have that warm and fuzzy feeling. Who is better at that than Jeter, who has always done the “right thing,” in terms of public perceptions? So rather than try to screw the Yanks over (which I think is within his reach if he wanted to – he’s in a great bargaining position) he will instead try to use this opportunity to get what he ultimately wants: part ownership of a ballclub. And that ultimately would be good for the Yanks too, which is why I think that issue will start being discussed at some point. Everybody wins.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
We have been talking about this at the office… There is a point where the Yanks say “Thanks, but no thanks.” $25 million per? I don’t think he will ask for that, but the problem will be that the Mets will probably make an offer if it ever gets to the Free Agency point. Forget where they will put him, but the Mets would LOVE to steal him from the Yankees. He SEEMS to be a fairly reasonable person and would not want to push it with the Yankees over this, but it will be more than the Jorge and Mariano on a per-year basis. 4/$80 with a 5th year mutual option?
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
As I have said….I think Jeter’s final play will be an ownership position with the club, not necessarily the dollars/year…although he’ll make his money.
That being said, the Yanks will NEVER allow Jeter to go crosstown. Never happen. Never.
Like or Dislike:
1 
0
Jeter in a Mets uniform I would stop watching baseball.Jete in an interview with Harold Reynolds said he wants to play with winners,can’t see him ever going to the Mets.Nearly impossible.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0