Yanks should not break the bank on Jeter
February 14, 2010, 6:30 pm by iYankees · 20 Comments
EJ Fagan of TYU offers us a piece today on Derek Jeter and writes about the speculation surrounding what Jeter could ultimately receive from the Yankees when they attempt to re-sign him at the end of the year. Many of the figures being discussed, as EJ points out, are genuinely silly, mostly because they consider Jeter’s countless achievements and impressive history with the organization more than they do his actual age, for example, which is indicative of an impending decline in performance. While I disagree with EJ’s statement that Jeter is already declining – he will decline in the future, but has yet to do so – I do agree with his overall premise, that the Yankees should pay Jeter slightly above market value, but that they should not “hamstring the team with another bloated albatross contract.”
As Brian Cashman said recently, if Jeter really wants to stay with the Yankees, it will be up to him to help make that happen. He should not expect some nostalgia-laden deal that would otherwise be unrealistic if he were on any other team. Though Jeter is the face of the franchise, the Yankees cannot operate emotively once he enters free agency.
Photo by Jim McIssac/Getty Images
