In the Derek Jeter free agent negotiations, the Yankees made the first move, offering the shortstop a three-year contract worth $45 million. Jeter’s side came back requesting a far greater amount, and though the veracity of the six-year, $150 million rumor has been called into question, sources say that Jeter and agent Casey Close asked for a five-year contract worth somewhere between $22-24 million per season.
Derek Jeter Likely To Receive Stronger Contract Offer From Yankees
In other words, the gap between the Yankees and their star shortstop - at least for now - is incredibly wide, as Jeter and Close are seeking many more years and many more millions than the organization appears willing to offer.
However, Jon Heyman has some good news for those hoping for a compromise - the Yankees, sure enough, look willing to up their offer a little bit. The likelihood that they guarantee a fourth year is slim, but they could jump from their current $15 million/year average up to something more like $17-18 million/year. That would still represent a pay cut for Jeter, and he wouldn’t get the longevity he’s seeking, but it’s still far more than he could get from somebody else on the open market.
Despite the relative ugliness of negotiations so far, most everyone around baseball expects the Yankees and Jeter to reach an agreement.
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