Team Jeter

I am definitely still Team Jeter and will remain on his side as I remained on Team Revis throughout his holdout. The sentiment is starting to fade for Jeter, just as many people were split on the Revis holdout. The longer this takes, the worse it gets for both Jeter and the Yankees, but if anything can be learned from Revis, it is that winning games will make people forget. Since the dispute ended and Revis returned from injury (probably due to missing so many practices), Revis has been the dominant corner that now seems worthy of his contract.

Jeter has already made bank. The Yankees have already rewarded him with close to $200 million. I have already heard/read stories of the anti-Jeter feelings. "He should realize the economic reality America is struggling with." Derek Jeter's reality is much different than America's. He works for the most financially successful sports franchise in the world. The Yankees were not hit by the recession so Jeter should not be thinking about the American public in negotiating his deal. Just because we do not make millions of dollars does not mean Jeter should be sympathetic to our feelings and take whatever the Yankees offer.

"Jeter will not mean the same to other teams as he does to the Yankees, so essentially they are bidding against themselves." This is true, but Jeter means more to the Yankees than any player does for any other team. Jeter is not only the team's captain, but the driving force pushing the team to succeed. Jeter has said the only accomplishment he is striving for is to match Yogi Berra's ring total, with ten. While that goal is extremely far-fetched given the expansion of talent, teams, and length left in Jeter's career, it just shows Jeter's determination to succeed.

"His skills have diminished as seen in his lower average, and poor fielding." I will not argue that he is an excellent shortstop. He did not deserve that Gold Glove this year, Elvis Andrus did. His range is plenty smaller than during his younger years and there is no denying that. I am more inclined to say that 2010 was an off year for Jeter. It was the "Year of the Pitcher." Many batters saw their stats decline but it was pretty surprising that Jeter could never break out and bring his number back to normal. The Yankees can definitely be viewing this season as the beginning of Jeter's decline, but I think he will come back strong next year.

All that being said, Derek Jeter will be in pinstripes in 2011. Everyone involved wants to see him remain a New York Yankee for his entire career; Jeter, the team, and the fans. He is too valuable to the team to kick to the curb and he has too much respect for the organization to take his talents to Cincinnati. The team needs to start showing a little more respect to him and concede in the negotiations at least a little bit. He wants more than three years. Alex Rodriguez is a Yankee until 2017 and that has to be in Jeter's mind.

From the beginning, I thought the team should offer Jeter a five to six year deal paying at a lower rate than he is currently receiving. I think Jeter would accept a pay decrease if offered a longer contract. The Yankees have to remember that a whole generation of fans revolve around Jeter and no one else on that team. We love Andy Pettitte and were furious when the Yanks let him take his talents to Houston, but if Jeter were to leave, they would see a stark decrease in revenue. Jeter has provided the team with 15 years of countless heroics and deserves more respect than a "take it or leave it" three year offer. Make the right decision Cashman and lengthen the offer. Do that, and then sign Cliff Lee.