New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter was allegedly offered a three-year contract worth $45-million. Allegedly, he wants more years and dollars. Is Derek Jeter — a 36-year old player on the decline — worth a giant contract?
Statistically speaking, he’s definitely not. He’s an old player that’s playing a young man’s position. His hitting production in 2010 was way down. Jeter has never been a great shortstop in terms of fielding. Despite winning a Gold Glove and having a high fielding percentage, he was one of the worst fielding shortstops in the league based on more advanced metrics. $45-million is a generous offer for a below average shortstop that’s old and most likely getting worse, but…
…he’s Derek Jeter. Is there an athlete in American professional sports that’s more synonymous with his team? Derek Jeter sells tickets, draws television ratings, and sells merchandise. This will be especially true in 2011 when he’ll become the first Yankee to reach 3,000 hits (barring injury). From a marketing standpoint, Jeter is definitely worth more money.
Then there are the intangible points that are impossible to place dollar signs on. Jeter has represented the Yankees in a uncannily classy way. He handles the NY press well and hasn’t made any major slip-ups off the field. Some people feel that Jeter helped the Yankees build the new stadium, increase ticket prices, and increase ratings for the YES Network. These people feel that the Yankees “owe” him a big payday. The dick fielding Jeter’s right — third baseman Alex Rodriguez — has an obscenely high and long contract. Unlike Jeter, A-Rod has embarrassed the Yankees on and off the field. Some people that Jeter deserves a contract comparable to Rodriguez’s. Personally, I think these sentiments are silly, but I also think it’s unfair to pay him solely based on performance since he clearly generates a ton of revenue.
Anyway, I’ve been thinking about this a lot for the last couple of weeks and I’d love to hear your thoughts. Kindly vote in today’s poll and chat it up in the comments section.
[poll id=”87″]
I'm in good shape and I think I'd have a coronary event if I was offered that much money over that amount of time to play a game.
I voted yes though because it is a good business decision for the Yankees and Jeter.
They should give Jeter whatever he wants. Its not like he will be playing much longer, and he is still pretty damn good.
As a Yankees fan, I can't imagine Jeter going anywhere else. And there's really only about 2 other teams that would offer Jeter MORE money than the Yankees….Boston and the OTHER NY team (assuming Jose Reyes falls off the earth obviously).
The Dodgers could if the divorce situation gets settled. People have been pointing to Jeter having a strong relationship with Mattingly.
Based on how public and ugly the divorce situation has been for the Dodgers, I wouldn't count on that.
The Diamondbacks could afford him?…
Couldn't they?
The D'Backs could afford a lot more then they actually spend. Phoenix is the 5th largest city in the U.S. and they run that franchise like it's Kansas City.
Is there an athlete in American professional sports that’s more synonymous with his team?
Since the question seems to be in the present tense of current athletes, I'll name these ones:
Hines Ward
Ben Roethlisberger
Jarome Igilnia
Sidney Crosby
Kobe Bryant
etc.
Drew Brees unless you mean drafted and been with only that team.
Tom Brady
Paul Pierce
Peyton Manning
Peyton Manning and Tom Brady should be up there too.
I only really threw Big Ben and Hines up there because I know for certain that they have both gone on record saying they intend to retire as Steelers.
I don't recall hearing anything like that from Manning or Brady.
Frankly, if this question were asked 5 years ago, we all would have said Brett Favre is synonymous with the Packers.
I think his name is still synonymous with GB. As much as Montana, RIce and Young are with San Francisco. Because later in their careers they played elsewhere, or in Young's case started in TB, doesn't diminish who they resonate with as far as a team goes. Strange, but I guess a lot of the best players are like that.
There are exceptions though. I can't put Deion with one team like I can Elway and Barry Sanders.
Bobby Cox = Braves.
I put Deion with the Cowboys. The same way I do Emmit Smith and Troy Aikman.
I also put Tony Ho… I mean Romo with the Cowboys as well.
I also feel that God is synonymous with the Steelers though.
Nah, I think God is definitely a Lakers fan more than a Steelers fan…or a Phil Jackson fan.
All I know is that God hates Ohio State.
That's called "karma" from where I'm sitting.
Bwa, ha, ha, ha, ha!!!!
-M
According to Iceman, God may hate Ohio State but Buddah is on the Booster Club.
Well as long as God helps them lose, I am fine.
I think Favre’s name was synonymous with the Packers until he left, but personally I still think of the Packers first when I hear (read) his name. I don’t think the players themselves dictate who they are associated with by saying it, but by becoming a great player under whatever team name they play with. Manning and Brady are two great franchise players who have, whether they have explicitly stated so or not, become the face of their respective team’s.