More accurately, I hate what they're abuse of a broken system has done to baseball. Don't get me wrong, there isn't a season that goes by that I don't wish the Braves will spend like the Yankees and do whatever it takes to win a World Series, but that doesn't make it right. The Yankees have created a cash generating machine and rather than using it to maximize their profits, they use it to outbid every team on any player they desire regardless of the player's actual worth. Admirable if your a Yankees fan; disgusting if you're not.
I'm not writing this post to debate whether or not the Yankees are slowly destroying half the teams in the league (they are, but again, that's for another day). I'm writing to do something I never thought I would do: come to the aid of Derek Jeter.
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| There's no one I would like to see fail more than Derek Jeter. Well, maybe Tom Brady. |
Jeter has become the most beloved Yankee since Mickey Mantle and has done more to restore the mighty aura of the Yankees than anyone else. To be fair, Jeter wasn't doing this for cheap. He was handsomely rewarded the past ten years, getting paid a staggering $189 million. With his contract expiring at the end of the year, most felt it was going to be a simple matter for the Yankees to resign their captain, especially given all they've been through. But as the off-season began, the front office began rumblings that Jeter would have to be realistic in his demands.
Despite winning a Gold Glove (which was absolutely ridiculous, by the way), Jeter had his worst year of his career in 2010 batting .270 with a pedestrian .340 OBP. There's no question that he's lost a step and that he probably lacks the range to be a top tier shortstop any more.
Reportedly, Jeter is looking for $20 million a year for four to six years. The Yankees, have drawn the line at $15 million a year for three years. I'm not going to argue that Jeter's numbers support $15 million a year let alone $20 million but let's take a step back and look at what we're talking about: This is the Yankees! Since when is money an issue?
This is the same team that signed AJ Burnett for $82.5 million when the next closest bid was $50 million. Even coming off an impressive season in Toronto (one in which he dominated the Yankees and Red Sox) most experts felt that this was a dramatic overbid, especially for someone who, at the time, was going to be their number three or four starter. The Yankees didn't care about the cost, though. They motto has always been, "you can't put a price on a championship."
This is why I refuse to believe this is about money. So what is it then? Production?
Jeter's numbers this year certainly weren't up to his lofty standards, but his .270 batting average was sixth among shortstops with 500 or more ABs, (Jeter, incidentally, had 663 of those, 30 more than the next closest shortstop). In addition to ABs, he led all shortstops in hits and runs and was Top 10 in doubles, RBI, walks, total bases and stolen bases. He's clearly still producing which makes the Yankees' line in the sand even more confusing.
Offer your captain $18 million for four years with a mutual option for a fifth and this thing gets done, Yanks. If he continues to diminish the next two or three years he'll retire as one of the most beloved Yankees and professional athletes of all time. Surely you've spent money on worse things (see: AJ Burnett, Kevin Brown, Carl Pavano, Randy Johnson, Gary Sheffield, Javy Vazquez, Jason Giambi)?
I respect Derek Jeter. Why don't the Yankees?
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