Jeter Needs To Check Himself

Derek Jeter thinks the Yankees will do anything to keep him. The Yankees have no such idea. The team synonymous with over-paying is taking a backseat approach to negotiations with one of their all-time greats.

Jeter and his agent are believed to want somewhere in the neighborhood of $20+ million over four or more years. That's about $80-100 million for a 36-year old shortshop coming off his least productive season in 15 years. The Yankees also just got done paying him $189 million over the last decade, which included one World Series ring.

Normally, the Yankees make ridiculous signings that make no sense and are completely over-priced. Like Mark Teixeira's 8-year, $180 million contract a couple years ago. Paying Alex Rodriguez $33 million to play third base is also laughable, but that's what the Yankees do. Apparently those days are over.

Yankees brass, Hal Steinbrenner and Brian Cashman, have drawn a line in the sand. They've made it clear they want Derek Jeter to remain a Yankee but have made their offer, 3 years and $45 million. That seems fair. Can you put a price on what Jeter has meant to the Yankees? Clearly you can and they've paid it throughout his career. This new contract would put him over $230 million for what he's done for the Yankees.

Sources say the Yankees told Jeter to "drink the reality potion." He needs to. He's a Hall of Famer, a Yankee legend and brought back the franchise to dominance in the mid-to-late 90s with clutch play. But he's also near the end of the line. He's got a few more decent years in him, no doubt. But not $20 million a year's worth.

Jeter needs the Yankees more than the Yankees need Jeter. They already got everything from him - four rings, millions of fans and a Hall of Fame career. Now they're throwing him a $45 million bone, allowing him to add to career totals while remaining a Yankee for life. In three years, it will be time to exit gracefully with class, just like he handled his entire career.

It's not Jeter's fault Teixeira and ARod are making more than him at this point but there's nothing he can do about it now. They don't have the stature, resume or legacy Jeter does but they were in better negotiating position when the contracts were signed. The contract of Jeter's career was inked in 2001, which was second only to ARod's ridiculous Rangers' contract at the time.

The Yankees and Jeter will work something out. Nobody wants to see him in Arizona or on some other irrelevant team. They're giving him the opportunity to test the free agent market. Teams will be interested but will it be worth leaving the Yankees for a few extra million? That's assuming there are teams offering more than $45 million for three years.

The Yankees may bump it up a few million over the course of the three years during the negotiation process. Jeter and his agent are playing hard ball right now. For the sake of the Yankees, Jeter and major league baseball fans, Jeter needs to accept the offer and retire a Yankee.