In a contract negotiation that was already ugly, things between the Yankees and Derek Jeter have just gotten worse.
Bill Madden of the New York Daily News has stated that Jeter and the Yankees are at least $80 million apart in their contract negotiation.
It is possible that the two sides may be more that $80 million apart.
This is a nightmare for Yankee fans, as neither side has been budging while Jeter and his agent Casey Close’s demands have gone up. It has been reported that Jeter and Close are asking for $25 million a year, well within the range of what teammate Alex Rodriguez makes every year.
Whether Rodriguez has anything to do with Jeter’s stance in this negotiation, Brian Cashman and the Yankee organization stand strong with their initial offer of three years for $45 million. Jeter and Close’s demands seem to be in the area of six years, $150 million.
The Yankee shortstop is not going to find anything near the Yankees’ initial offers, and he and his agent’s demands have just been greedy. Jeter is an icon in Yankees history, but the fact remains he is 36 years old, and $25 million a year will not be the smartest investment for the next six years. Jeter still has some years left, and the three-year contract the Yankees have offered him is more than reasonable and generous.
Nobody wants to see Jeter in a different uniform next season, but it is time to start thinking if the two sides cannot come to a conclusion, Jeter just might be wearing No. 2 for a different team next season.
The Yankees have thrown away money before and have made investments that have turned out to be failures, but a six-year, $150 million deal is just not worth it for Jeter, who, at 36, is coming off his worst statistical season.
Source: New York Daily News
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