Derek Jeter & Yankees in Rough Negotiation for Contract

Is it possible to rate the level of publicity and excitement Derek Jeter has brought to the Yankees in recent years? He has a lot of star power for the team. He also has a lot of charisma, which has garnered him a lot of followers who aren't the traditional sports fans.

Jeter has clout and he knows it. It seems like he is holding out for a deal he considers amazing for his next contract with the Yankees. Jeter knows the Yankees will have a monster of a public relations mess if they force his hand and lose him. He's got the power of PR on his side.

Jeter is Turning 37 in June

And yet the Yankees are talking trash about how old Jeter is and how lately his skills have been a bit weaker than in previous years. The General Manager of the Yankees, Brian Cashman, told the New York Times "We do appreciate the contributions he has made to this organization. And Derek Jeter is the person we want playing short stop. But, the money in a new contract has to be a fair salary that reflects the fact that Jeter will turn 37 next June."

Thus far the Yankees have offered Derek Jeter a three-year, $45 million contract. Good try, but so far the Yankees are low-balling Jeter. His contribution to the Yankees is major and he deserves a deal with more clout to show that the Yankees appreciate him and will do what it takes to keep him feeling great.

Derek Jeter probably also wants a contract that lasts longer than 3 years. He's given the Yankees 15 seasons. And now he likely wants the security of a longer contract.

Derek Jeter: Captain of the Yankees

Jeter is the captain of the Yankees. If his morale plummets there goes the morale of the team. This player has achieved for the Yankees and he is right to hold out for what he feels is equitable in his upcoming contract.

For all of his 15 seasons with the Yankees Jeter's batting average was only below .290 in 2010. Perhaps he was a bit distracted knowing that his contract was coming up for negotiations.

And now everyone is piping up with an opinion on Jeter's contract negotiations. He announced at the Safe Home dinner for Joe Torre's foundation that "His grandmother was teasing him about not having a job," notes the NY Times. I guess no matter how big a sports star Jeter is he still gets some ribbing at home from his family.

Steinbrenner Discusses Negotiations

Hal Steinbrenner stated recently that contract negotiations are "not personal but are simply business," notes the NY Daily News. Well, let's hope the Yankees get their business together soon and gives Jeter the deal he wants. Cause after all, he brings a lot of business and revenue into the stadium at each game. And the fans want Jeter around for more than 3 years, so the Yankees should give Jeter a longer contract and lock him in so the fans don't revolt.

New Yorkers often love to negotiate and hate to take no for an answer. Derek Jeter wasn't born in NYC, he's originally from New Jersey. But he's a true New Yorker now. He's hanging tough for a great deal. He'll probably get what he wants. After all, NYC is where dreams are made and star power rules.

Best wishes to Derek Jeter as he hammers out the terms of the contract offer. New York City has always had baseball fever. The York Music Company published "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" in 1908. NYC baseball fans still go crazy to get to the game.

"Take Me Out to the Ballgame"

"Take me out to the ball game,

Take me out with the crowd.

Buy me some peanuts and cracker jack,

I don't' care if I never get back,

Let me root, root, root for the home team."

To see the full lyrics of the song go HERE.

Sources:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/23/sports/baseball/23jeter.html?src=twt&twt=nytimes

http://www.baseball-almanac.com/poetry/po_stmo.shtml