A couple winters ago, the Yankees offered Andy Pettitte what they thought was a fair contract for an old man who had shoulder issues down the stretch. The contract was for around $10M, but Pettitte refused. The Yankees then signed Sabathia, Burnett, and Teixeira to ginormous contracts. Andy, with no other viable options, was forced to take an incentive laden contract worth only $5.5M in guaranteed money.
Jeter is currently in a position similar to Pettitte's. He's been offered an, according to the Yankees, fair contract. He is stalling for more money. The Yankees are looking to sign a mega free agent target in Cliff Lee. Sure, that's one target, not three; but the ginormous contracts of those other three free agents are still on the books. Mo's contract is also looming and seems more likely to get done easily. Does Jeter risk a very public humiliation if he lets the Yankees wrap up too much money in other free agents before getting his share? Could he be looking at an incentive laden deal of his own? One would think not, but then one didn't expect Bernie Williams to be offered a minor league deal in his last days, or Pettitte to sign a contract worth $5.5M either, did one? I wonder just how "messy" things could get.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
8 comments:
I'd say give him an incentive laden contract right now. Offer $15 million a year with a ton of incentives that would allow him to earn upwards of $25 million if he performs to previous levels (and definitely some sort of bonus money for reaching 3000 hits). I don't see how anybody could be overly upset about that.
Pettitte pitched his way to the World Series, and I am sure that Jeter will continue to perform good enough to bring the team to the post season as well. Pettitte should have gotten more money, and so does Jeter. 15-20 million with incentives would be a fair contract for him.
I think incentives will eventually need to be discussed, but I'm still not sold on the idea of paying a shortstop $20M or more a year, especially one that is about to turn 37; even if it is Derek Jeter. That's just a lot of money for a singles hitter.
SI is reporting that the Rockies are on verge of giving Troy Tulowitzki a contract that would pay him $20M for six years. Tulowitzki is a shortstop, but he's a power hitting shortstop who is 26. Not sure how this affects the discussion for Jeter.
I think the $15 million a season is fair, I would just throw in a $6 million 3,000th hit milestone incentive. A-Rod gets $6 million for reaching 660 homeruns, I'm sure the first Yankee player to reach 3,000 hits should be worth at least that.
Sounds like Roberto is disrespecting Jeters gangster.
It's not personal, it's business.
Another take from SI.
Post a Comment