Jeter and Yankees Reach $12 Million 1-Year Deal
AP – Derek Jeter and the New York Yankees have agreed to a $12 million, one-year contract. The deal Friday replaces a $9.5 million player option for the 39-year-old shortstop. Jeter was limited to 17 games this year after breaking his ankle in the 2012 AL championship series opener against Detroit. Jeter hit .190 (12 for 63) with one homer and 73 RBIs this year, playing 13 games at shortstop and four at designated hitter. The Yankees’ captain was on the disabled list four times.
This is a good move on both sides of the deal. Jeter gets $2.5 mil more than he would have with the option and the Yankees avoid a possible PR nightmare by having him opt-out and deal with negotiations. Getting this out of the way as early as possible so the team can focus on the rest of the free agents is the best possible scenario. They did the same thing with Girardi. Lock down the most important staples before making the big splashes.
People are going to complain that this is too much for a 39-year-old shortstop who basically missed all of last year, but at the end of the day Jeter can’t leave NY and he isn’t just any 39-year-old. The difference of $2.5 mil is fucking nothing to the Yankees compared to the amount they bring in by selling Jeter related memorabilia, and that is if this isn’t his last year. How much did they make off Mo last year? Jeter will bring in more. The off-season is in full swing and the wallet should be wide open.
UPDATE: Even though this is $2.5 mil more than his option, this actually counts less against the Yankees in the luxury tax threshold. One step closer to that precious $189 million