The latest news on the tug-of-war between Derek Jeter and the Bronx Bombers…
- We've already heard (Twitter link) from Sports Illustrated's Jon Heyman that the Yankees were willing to increase their offer of $45MM over three years to Jeter. Heyman now tweets that the increase is worth "a couple mil a year," but Jeter will "have to accept [a] pay cut to stay."
- The Yankees "would like to make inroads" about a Jeter contract next week and perhaps have things worked out by the winter meetings, says Heyman in a follow-up tweet.
- The difficulty of these negotiations has already harmed both Jeter's reputation and the Yankee brand, argues Bob Raissman of the New York Daily News. Raissman speculates that Brian Cashman may be emboldened to take such a firm stance on Jeter's contract since the GM experienced no backlash when dealing with another beloved Yankee, Bernie Williams.
- ESPN's Rob Neyer says that a new deal for Jeter isn't really a sure thing, even though most assume it is.
- A four-year contract worth around $70MM (a "painful sacrifice" for both sides) should be enough to get Jeter re-signed, argues Ian O'Connor of ESPNNewYork.com.
MLBTR's Mike Axisa contributed to this post
If Jeter declines $70M/4, see ya. Don’t let the door hit you on the way out.
This whole Jeter fiasco *IS* giving NY & Jeter a black eye.
Completely agree, if he isn’t willing to compromise, let him go, that’s more then generous. And honestly he does kind of deserve it. When he gets into the hall of fame, you don’t want people to be able to say anything negative about him. If all he cares about is winning, he should take an actual pay cut, so the yankees can spend that extra money on real problems aka cliff lee.
Exactly. I know the players union isnt likely to allow him to take a huge paycut but if Jeter was all about the Yankees and winning, he’d make this as painless as possible and allow the Yankees to go after Cliff Lee, the biggest impact player in the team’s biggest area of need.
At best, he gets his money from the Yankees but looks like a jerk in the process. At worse, he takes a paycut to play for a team not named the Yankees and tarnish his legacy.
I think at this point it’s just him being egotistical and stubborn. He’s been playing these last 10 years as an icon, making what he thought he deserved, and winning all this time, and now he wakes up one day and probably is just realizing he’s on the decline. That’s got to be a huge slap to the face. He went from star player to aging veteran in what probably feels to him like a year.
well, he did have a good year last year.
Compared to Yuniesky Betancourt perhaps. Jeter had an okay year, but it was really a mammoth drop-off from his 2009 and it’s certainly more than generous to offer him $15 million a year.
Compared to Yuniesky Betancourt perhaps. Jeter had an okay year, but it was really a mammoth drop-off from his 2009 and it’s certainly more than generous to offer him $15 million a year.
low OPS and terrible defense. He wasnt good
But he won the Gold Glove!!!!
…and Omar Infante was also an All-Star.
…and Omar Infante was also an All-Star.
But he won the Gold Glove!!!!
low OPS and terrible defense. He wasnt good
i mean 2009
What does the players union have to do with Jeter’s contract negotiations? He can only make what teams offer. Will the players union also disallow Manny from taking a pay cut?
He meant that sometimes the players union put pressure on players to sign high deals to help set the future market. Like theres been rumors of the Players Union putting pressure on Lee to sign with NY or the team that gives him the highest offer. Helps set the market
If that’s what he meant, it didn’t come through in the wording.
Lol yea true it didnt
I disagree, more like..This whole Jeter fiasco *IS* giving Jeter a black eye.
If he declines? Why would Cashman have to even go that high? Jeter can balk at the 3/45 all he wants. What other clubs will match or beat that? There is zero incentive for Cashman to raise his offer beyond a few mill. Maybe throw in a 4th year buy out for $10.
the Yankees shouldn’t increase their offer at all…his age and most recent stats indicate he will be a drain on the team in his 3rd year so why give him 4 and we all know 15 mill is gross overpayment…so why increase the salary…jeter has no leverage and if he walked the lost in production would not be major…and although he is the main face of the yankees he is “the face” of the Yankees and it would one less ovepaid aging palyer who they wouldn’t have to worry about…
Who cares about this Derek Jeter guy who is washed up.and its wanting 23-24 mil a year for his Tony Womack like play
Jeter is the biggest fraud in baseball, Most people in the know,know that Posada is the true leader in that clubhouse
The same guy who was third in the 2009 AL MVP voting is now washed up? You might want to reconsider your wording.
His words are just fine. Jeter’s OPS dropped from .871 to .710. His UZR dropped from 6.4 to -4.7. Who cares about 2009 when his 2010 season was brutal. You dont get the benefit of the doubt when you’re about to turn 37.
I disagree. His bad season was a 2.5 WAR, and his avg WAR for the last 5 years is still 4.6. I wouldn’t call that washed up.
I suppose Ken Griffey jr aint washed up in your opinion either
Now that is just being stupid. Griffey’s last season with a 2.5 or better WAR was in 2005 with a 3.3. He was 36 that season, but he averaged only a 1.5 WAR from 2001-2005, mainly due to injuries. The comparison to Jeter doesn’t work, because Jeter has not started breaking down physically.
I disagree. His bad season was a 2.5 WAR, and his avg WAR for the last 5 years is still 4.6. I wouldn’t call that washed up.
The same guy who was third in the 2009 AL MVP voting is now washed up? You might want to reconsider your wording.
I still don’t understand why this is such a big story. Who will offer Jeter more than 3years/45million? And if they do, it will get matched.
Jeter has no leverage and he will eventually give in to their demands.
Thats what Im saying. Why even bother increasing the offer? If he doesn’t like it where is he ganna go? To the Pirates on a minor league deal? Please…I wouldn’t increase the offer and just leave it how it is.
Yup, he’s going to have to sign with them even in he doesn’t like the offer. If some team is willing to pay more then the yankees, they’re going to atleast match it. And not only will it have to be a slightly better offer from a different team, but it’s going to have to be significantly more money, because Jeter isn’t going to leave over 2 million more per year.
Jeter has already made over 200 million dollars in his career. You could be right, but you might also be way off. What if this deal is more about respect than actual dollars. What if Jeter tells the Yankees to stuff their contract offer, and he signs with another team for less money. Joe Torre did it, why not Jeter?
Because Torre didn’t have the same legacy as Jeter does. Jeter is supposed to be a liftime yankee, Torre was already a player for a different team etc. Jeter is a fan favorite, and it would basically take some crazy turn for the worst for Derek to not stay in NY.
Which is exactly why Jeter does have some leverage.
He doesn’t have any leverage, if he took an offer less than the yankees offer, he would look like the bad guy. Cashman wins no matter what. If someone offers Jeter more than the yankees, the yankees match the offer. If Derek gets something less than the yankees and accepts it, the fans start to think that he didn’t want to be a yankee in the first place. If cashman stays put with this offer no matter what it looks fair for both sides, so noone can be upset with him (unless he refuses to match a different teams offer).
At this point, I think Cash would be best off giving Jeter a one year incentive laden deal with a base salary of 15 million. Tell DJ that if he’s still as good as he thinks he is to let him prove it on the field, and if he can, then he’ll make the money he deserves and they’ll make a new multi year contract the next year. If DJ happens to not reach the incentives, then it could be a wake up call, that he needs to lower his demands the following offseason.
If he took a lesser deal with another team, Ca$hman would take just as much heat as Jeter. More so if Jeter has a great season. If you think Jeter will take a one year deal for 15 million, you’re nuts. The 3000 hit plateau is one of the leverage arrows in Jeter’s quiver. No way he lets it go for a one year deal.
If you give him 10 mil in incetives that are reachable but not easy goals, i think it’s without a doubt fair. If he has a chance at making what he wants to make, it’s fair. Then you tell him if you prove us wrong now, we’ll give you that multi year deal you wanted. I read somewhere that the reason he wasn’t offered arbitration was simply because the yankees were afraid he would come back and have another good season.
Cashman would not take any heat if Jeter took a lesser deal then the yankees. What is he supposed to do if DJ doesn’t want to play for him. He offered him money, that’s all he can offer. If he wants to play for a different team, he’s going to play for a different team.
No, money is not all he could have offered. He could have offered Jeter the respect he deserves by handling these negotiations behind closed doors. Did the Yankees really need to do this through the media? I’m sure that a bruised ego and hurt feelings will be part of the reason Jeter leaves, if he does.
No, money is not all he could have offered. He could have offered Jeter the respect he deserves by handling these negotiations behind closed doors. Did the Yankees really need to do this through the media? I’m sure that a bruised ego and hurt feelings will be part of the reason Jeter leaves, if he does.
If he took a lesser deal with another team, Ca$hman would take just as much heat as Jeter. More so if Jeter has a great season. If you think Jeter will take a one year deal for 15 million, you’re nuts. The 3000 hit plateau is one of the leverage arrows in Jeter’s quiver. No way he lets it go for a one year deal.
the Yanks should offer him a year deal period…somewhere between 15 and 25 mill depending on if other teams put up a bid that forces them to go higher…maybe add deferred payments at 3 to 5 mill a year for 5 years…that’s for the 3000 hits…then they should part ways…he can retire somewhere else for his true vaule (5 to 7.5 mill) like most great players who play past their prime and don’t realize they are only taking away from their legacy…
Jeter went from gamer to grinch in 2.3 seconds!
Hold your ground CashMan!
A four year/70 million contract is a painful sacrifice for both sides? Not really. It just means that the Yankees cave.
Not really. If you start negotiations at 3/45 that means you are likely going to go higher.
When you buy a car does the dealer give you the first price you throw at him? Not unless you are an idiot cause if he jumps all over what you offer initially then that means you could have offered less. You low ball and then work your way up.
This is much more complicated than that.
The Yankees are the buyers here. They are the ones buying Jeter’s services. They offered a very generous offer since no one else in the market is willing to pay more.
Who exactly is the idiot if the Yankees UP their offer when no one else is willing to pay the initial the offer?
How quickly Yankee fans turn on their hero. You would think they were paying his contract. If only Ca$hman saved that money he spent on Igawa and Pavano. That would be more than enough to placate “The Captain”.
Alot of fans have been over Jeter for a while…with his swinging at the 1st pitch,slow groundouts too 2nd,ground into double plays,rubbish range at SS
Jeter has always been about himself,his whole good guy act was excatly that- a act
Even if the Yankees had an infinite payroll, I wouldn’t want them to give Jeter more than their initial $45M/3. $23-$24M per and 4-5 years? Sorry Jeter, not after last year’s numbers.
People complain about the Yankees throwing money at free agents yet the time when they stand their ground, they are getting heat as well. Granted, it’s for the Yankee icon Derek Jeter but still no ONE PLAYER is above the organization’s future and well-being.
All the “fans” who say to give Jeter what he wants based on his past accomplishments, what will you say in 2 years when he can no longer even be a serviceable SS and hits even weaker groundballs while the Yankees have even less financial flexibility? Just because they made one mistake giving A-Rod a ridiculous contract doesn’t mean they should repeat the mistake again.
Why should they placate him? You honestly think with what the Yankees are raking in every year a couple of bad signings are the sticking point here? Stupid post.
So what’s the sticking point, genius? If bad signings aren’t an issue, why make it one with the face of the franchise?
Bad contracts have not broken the Yankees’ bank, but they certainly should be avoided when possible. It’s a negotiation, obviously one party is looking for the most money possible. You shouldn’t bend over just because he’s the star, it’s not like he’s played for free up to this point.
Pavano and Igawa’s contracts were awful in hindsight, but you don’t need hindsight to see why having a 41 year old $20m+ SS is bad.
This whole situation was done wrong, there should have been one meeting at the very beginning of the offseason, which would have been short, just basically stating what each side is looking for, ending with we’ll see you in one week from today. When the second meeting started, Cash should have told Close and Jeter that they won’t be leaving that meeting until a contract is constructed.
The way this was handled has only created bad blood between both sides, the yankees have used the media to make the fans feel like they’re offering Derek what he’s worth. And this has just made Jeter look like the bad guy to the fans.
KenJr1918 where were You when boston gave their awesomely captain that last contract he signed ? Put all emotions aside man and get real. if cashman gives Jeter more money/Yrs he’d look so stupid it’ll be funny. He needs to stand his ground.
I was all for the last two contracts Varitek signed. The Sox didn’t demonize him as they have other players in the past. Aside from that, there is a big difference between Jeter and Varitek. Varitek isn’t a HOF player, isn’t the face of the franchise, and isn’t in line for 3000 hits. Just a few questions:You’re telling me Ca$hman doesn’t look dumb for the countless over pays he’s handed out in the past? Is tarnishing the image of the most iconic player they’ve had since Mantle really worth 20-40 million dollars?
I was all for the last two contracts Varitek signed. The Sox didn’t demonize him as they have other players in the past. Aside from that, there is a big difference between Jeter and Varitek. Varitek isn’t a HOF player, isn’t the face of the franchise, and isn’t in line for 3000 hits. Just a few questions:You’re telling me Ca$hman doesn’t look dumb for the countless over pays he’s handed out in the past? Is tarnishing the image of the most iconic player they’ve had since Mantle really worth 20-40 million dollars?
To be fair most of those huge contracts were George’s idea not Cashman’s. He’s to smart for that
Oh and I would think yes to the last question. Cashman’s job is to put a winning product on the field. Handicapping that task for the sake of Jeter’s ego seems like poor decision making.
That isn’t the total of Ca$hman’s job. He is also partly responsible for building the Yankees as a brand. Winning isn’t the only thing that perpetuates the branding of the team. Star players have done more for the Yankees brand over the last ten years than the 4 championships they won from 1996-2000. Look at team revenue and attendance figures, they back up my statement.
stars are what the Yankees are filled with…and great unknown players or lesser known players can quickly become stars in the Biggest baseball/media market-N.Y.C. so if the Yanks went out and made a trade for someone like Stephen Drew they’d do just fine…at the same time no matter how great a player was if he becomes a major reason for their lack of success fans will either turn on that player or the organization if they can’t some how overcome his lack of production…
If that’s the case, why have they consistently filled their team with free agent all-stars over the last decade?
Wow really? So are you saying that it is the yankees job to keep Jeter’s image up by offering way more money than 1. they need to and 2. they should based on his performance? That’s absolutely incredibly stupid. It’s up to DEREK JETER to keep his image up by accepting a damn fair deal of 3 years $45 MM and shut up. Seriously, this is like the last thing I would have ever though of. I’m a die hard Red Sox fan and I think it’s crazy, and Cashman needs to hold his ground. As far as the Ax is concerned, he thinks he’s a local celebrity around here because he calls in the (only) local sports talk radio show, and he was nominated for the stations caller hall of fame. I don’t quite know if he knows that the so called hall of fame is really a hall of shame. So anything he says shouldn’t be taken seriously. Back to the yankees, if they offer more money and throw money in the fireplace to burn, that would be a typical yankee move and will be yet another reason they will never have a respectable payroll. Yes they have an infinite amount of money to use but restructuring the way they pay players based on past contracts is the first thing they need to do. Plain and simple.
No, it isn’t their job to keep his image up, but do they need to chop down his image in order to negotiate a contract? I’m sure if they kept these negotiations behind closed doors, Jeter might have actually accepted a deal close to the current offer. But by dragging these negotiations through the mud, they are increasing the chance that the icon and face of the franchise walks. Jeter means more to the team than just his on the field statistics, and if you think otherwise, you’re kidding yourself. As I said before, is the tarnishing of his image in this manner really necessary and/or fiscally responsible? Jeter is part of the Yankees brand. They are worth more now than they have ever been. To think Jeter had nothing to do with that is foolish. The Yankees have never had a problem overspending for performance, why change that methodology with a player that does as much for you off the field as on?
obviously it’s because either the Yankee budget is starting to become an issue or those off the field deeds are not as vauleable as jeter plays it up to be…and many Yankees are involved in off the field good works…they also go around and speak and sign autographs visit hospitals and camps etc….and after Jeter their will be others…he is not indespensible…and quite frankly i think most people only care if their team wins and that their players don’t do anything stupid enough to keep them from playing and doing it at their highest level…
You’re going to tell me the budget is an issue when they are going to probably give C. Lee 6-7 years @ 20+ million per. Really?
And why should I care or need to know about this Ax guy you speak of? Injecting that rant in the middle of your argument was a bit disconcerting.
And why should I care or need to know about this Ax guy you speak of? Injecting that rant in the middle of your argument was a bit disconcerting.
when pettite wanted more money than what the yankees offered, he searched around and came back to the yankees. i’m not sure that harmed pettite or gave him a black eye. i don’t think the yankees were harmed either. the yankees said we love andy so we’re offering him this deal. pettite came back although he had said he was offended at the yankees’ offer or something to that effect. i am not a jeter fan but i don’t think this damages either jeter or the yankees. of course it would help if the dispute was kept private.
“a painful sacrifice” ??? let them bust their butts in the real world for a bit then they can evaluate what painful and sacrifice really mean. pathetic.
yeah, and why don’t you go live in third world poverty without food, shelter and clean water, and then you’ll understand what painful and sacrifice really mean. they’re writing about baseball teams not musing on the economy worldly issues.
i have. being as you don’t know my situation, i think you can close your mouth. i lived in africa teaching in a very deprived area.
and you’re on a computer talking about baseball trade rumors? sounds rough.
clearly you have not been taught your tenses yet. you see “have” and “lived” means that i “was” there. i am no longer. so, grow a brain.
Right exactly. (Please do correct me if I’m wrong) But it really doesn’t sound to me as though you were born into a diseased and poverty riddled household or society. Instead you said “I lived in africa teaching in a very deprived area.” I’m talking about being those extremely deprived people. The ones that die every day from diarrhea, lack of food, and a lack of basic services. I’m not talking about the people that go observe the poverty stricken areas and come back to the US and write on a baseball blog how much money they think Derek Jeter should get. The people I’m talking about have never heard of computers, the internet, or Derek Jeter.
clearly you have not been taught your tenses yet. you see “have” and “lived” means that i “was” there. i am no longer. so, grow a brain.
Self-promotion FTW!
Self-promotion FTW!
i have. being as you don’t know my situation, i think you can close your mouth. i lived in africa teaching in a very deprived area.
yeah, and why don’t you go live in third world poverty without food, shelter and clean water, and then you’ll understand what painful and sacrifice really mean. they’re writing about baseball teams not musing on the economy worldly issues.
Both Raissman and O’Connor are complete morons and blow everything out of proportion at every opportunity.
I agree with your sentiments. I wouldn’t go quite that far as to call them morons, but O’Connor is a sloppy reporter that quite often doesn’t do his homework and does often distort facts. Raissman isn’t anything more than a snarky blogger, who doesn’t meet the qualifications to even contribute to this site.
Wallace Matthews is the worst
I agree with your sentiments. I wouldn’t go quite that far as to call them morons, but O’Connor is a sloppy reporter that quite often doesn’t do his homework and does often distort facts. Raissman isn’t anything more than a snarky blogger, who doesn’t meet the qualifications to even contribute to this site.
well if they ever over payed a player it was b/c they needed to or maybe there wasn’t any other better option. idk man maybe i’m a bit biased b/c of all the hours i’ve spent Yelling at my Tv every time Jeter hits into a double play or every time he swings at the first pitch and makes an out when they’re being no-hit or shut down w/e, I Just think Jeter does not deserves more than 3/45 Mills. Thats what i think.
well if they ever over payed a player it was b/c they needed to or maybe there wasn’t any other better option. idk man maybe i’m a bit biased b/c of all the hours i’ve spent Yelling at my Tv every time Jeter hits into a double play or every time he swings at the first pitch and makes an out when they’re being no-hit or shut down w/e, I Just think Jeter does not deserves more than 3/45 Mills. Thats what i think.
1 year deal with the Cardinals for 16 million. Win another Championship with St. Louis…Pujols re-signs and Jeter goes back to the Yanks to finish out career. Wishful thinking? Probably, but he would fit in great in St. Louie!
1 yr deal at $16 or 3/$45? He’ll stay a Yank
1 yr deal at $16 or 3/$45? He’ll stay a Yank
that has to be the worst idea i have heard all day. I can literally think of 50 better ways to spend 16million.
that has to be the worst idea i have heard all day. I can literally think of 50 better ways to spend 16million.
When Jeter pretended to get hit by the pitch that actually hit the nob of the bat. I was
disappointed in him. I always said, if jeter. Posada or A-Rod got into the club house
first, their egos and heads are so big there’s no room for the rest of the team. But
to me he lost his integrity when he made beleive he was hit. It is a sign that the player
is on his way down and will do anythng to get on. I always thought that finally the kids
had some one to look up to. Any one could see he wasn,t hit including the kids.
The yankees have traditionally “over-payed” on players in order to ensure they come to NY. There is no real threat of Jeter leaving, so there really is no real incentive for them to overpay more than they are already offering. It is unlikely anybody will/would match the 3/45, so why bump it up?
Because the public thinks the yankees owe jeter money as if he’s been on the payroll for the last 15 years free of charge. Give me a break! He deserves to get paid like a 37 year old shortstop, not a budding prospect that hit .350 at AAA and then .340 in his first season in the bigs. Please.
Players that .340 in their first year in the bigs usually don’t get paid squat. As a matter of fact, most players in their first season don’t get paid that much(in comparison to other players), until they become arbitration eligible.
The yankees have traditionally “over-payed” on players in order to ensure they come to NY. There is no real threat of Jeter leaving, so there really is no real incentive for them to overpay more than they are already offering. It is unlikely anybody will/would match the 3/45, so why bump it up?
1 year deal with a contender to spite the Yanks and let them see just how much they will miss him!
Because I’m sure after 15 years with the Yankees the first thing Derek Jeter wants to do is make less money than he would with the Yankees AND spite the Yankees. It makes so much sense! And then he could sign another 1 year deal with another contender the following year! Lolz!
Maybe if the Yankees continue to portray him as greedy, he just might. Remember, he’s already a pretty rich man, so respect and acknowledgement of his contributions might mean as much or more than money. Especially if the Yankees don’t up their offer. Just something to think about.
I’m pretty sure we have enough basis for example (like just about every professional athlete ever) to safely assume that Derek Jeter would take the most money. Oh, you say that’s coming from the Yankees? Well I guess that’s where he’ll sign then.
And how many of those examples have already made over 200 million dollars, and were being offered a pay cut?
coming from a Yankees fan, the Yankees could lose out on Jeter, Mo, and Lee this offseason with the way these negotiations are going and the way it’s being publicized.
coming from another Yankees fan, what do you suppose they would do with all of that extra money? All like, 50 million of it. Or would the payroll just be 170 million next year?
Sarcasm detector is going. Anyway, the payroll WONT be 170 million next year, they’ll just resign Nick Johnson to a 1 year 15 million dollar deal with another 20 million in incentives.
Seriously, I think the Yankees will resign Mo, not so much for Jeter. Being 1 year apart is better than 3 years and 80 million apart. As far as Lee, is he really going to go where the money is? If so he’s a Yankee. I just have my doubts, the Yankees will have to outbid the competition by at least 40 million.
Alright…. a bit more level now. We both know Mo isn’t going anywhere. And so when Texas offers Cliff Lee a 5 yrs 100 Mil you really think the Yanks are going to have to go somewhere like 6 years 140 just to sign him? Cliff Lee despises the idea of playing for the most storied franchise is American sports so much, as well as the idea of competing for a championship every year, that he needs to be paid $40 million dollars more to get himself out of Arlington, Texas? I think probably just a simple 10-15 millions dollars more will suffice.
Sarcasm detector is going. Anyway, the payroll WONT be 170 million next year, they’ll just resign Nick Johnson to a 1 year 15 million dollar deal with another 20 million in incentives.
Seriously, I think the Yankees will resign Mo, not so much for Jeter. Being 1 year apart is better than 3 years and 80 million apart. As far as Lee, is he really going to go where the money is? If so he’s a Yankee. I just have my doubts, the Yankees will have to outbid the competition by at least 40 million.
coming from another Yankees fan, what do you suppose they would do with all of that extra money? All like, 50 million of it. Or would the payroll just be 170 million next year?
coming from a Yankees fan, the Yankees could lose out on Jeter, Mo, and Lee this offseason with the way these negotiations are going and the way it’s being publicized.
Ian O’Connor is an idiot.