The 36 year old Derek Jeter has spent his entire career with the Yankees, from the time he was drafted sixth overall in 1992, and from the time he first appeared in the big leagues in 1995. Over the past decade and a half, Jeter has established himself as a team captain and a national icon, a central figure in the team's five world championships.
Derek Jeter, Yankees Prepare To Talk Contract
In February of 2001, Jeter and the Yankees agreed to a ten-year contract that would pay the shortstop $189 million. The deal came with a full no-trade clause and promised to keep Jeter around until the final seasons of his career. However, that contract expired with the Yankees' ALCS elimination by the Rangers, and Jeter is now a free agent. Though nobody expects New York to let him get away, the two sides must now begin talking about a new deal.
You’d think it might be easy for them to work something out, but Jon Heyman suggests otherwise:
jeter could take awhile. #yanks may be thinking 2-3 yrs. but industry sources suggest he could ask to stay 'til hes 42 (6 yrs), a la arod.
Jon Heyman
SI_JonHeyman
Complicating matters is that Jeter is coming off the worst season he’s ever had. His .270 batting average, .340 OBP, and .370 slugging percentage were all career lows, and he went just 10-40 in the playoffs. He hit a lot of groundballs, sapping his power, and as a middle infielder at an advanced age, one wonders just how much Jeter has left to contribute on the field.
Which makes this a difficult situation. Jeter as a player is no longer a prime value, and it’s unlikely that things get much better down the road. However, Jeter holds a lot of meaning besides what he does on the field, and that’s the point he’s probably going to emphasize in negotiations. The Yankees won’t only have to pay for Jeter the player; they’ll also have to pay for Jeter the symbol.
Ultimately, the two sides should get something done that carries Jeter to his retirement. And this being the Yankees, they can afford to pay him more than he’s worth with his skills. But it will be interesting to see the figure at which they settle.
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