Hal Steinbrenner doesn’t expect talks to go smoothly with Derek Jeter
Derek Jeter has played his whole career for the New York Yankees. He started in 1995 and has won five World Series with the Bronx Bombers, but as he enters free agency there’s a chance he won’t return to the Yankees.
Hal Steinbrenner, co-owner of the Yankees, said on Wednesday that talks between the team and Jeter may not go smoothly, which could open the door for Jeter to sign with another team.
"We absolutely want him back," said Steinbrenner. "But having said that, we're running a business here, so if there's a deal to be done, it's going to have to be a deal that both sides are happy with."
Jeter is coming off a 10-year, $189 million contract, and after hitting under .300 for the first time in six years, he will have to accept a pay cut of some kind.
He numbers weren’t terrible in 2010. He batted .270 with 10 home runs and 67 RBIs, but the year before he signed that 10 year deal he hit .339 with 15 home runs and 73 RBIs. He numbers are dwindling, and the 36-year-old’s best playing days are already behind
him.
He’s done a lot for the organization. He’s been named to 11 All-Star teams, won four Gold Glove Awards, four Silver Slugger Awards, and was the 2000 World Series MVP. He’s also been the team captain since 2003.
Should Jeter and the Yankees not agree on a new deal it would open the door for Jeter to take his leadership abilities to another team, possibly a division rival like the Boston Red Sox. It would not be the first time a player switched allegiances between
the two rivals, but considering Jeter’s tenure with the Yankees it would be difficult for Yank’s fans to accept such a move.
"Who knows?" Steinbrenner said. "You just never know with these things. Both parties need to be happy with the deal, and that may make things more complicated, I don't know. There's always the possibility that things could get messy."
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