I like to make fun of Ian O'Connor

[Guest metsguyinmichigan]

Like the aforementioned Filip Bondy, you have to wonder if O'Connor types this nonsense with a straight face. Then you read about his Jeter book and the Jeter lust we already know about, and you have to wonder.

Here's a little gem from this week about Jeter going for a new contract.

http://sports.espn.go.com/new-york/mlb/columns/story?columnist=oconnor_ian&id=5720651


Here are some highlights:

Ian: But I know what you're thinking: All aging icons ultimately fall from grace. Muhammad Ali was beaten by Trevor Berbick. Michael Jordan was fired by Abe Pollin. Babe Ruth was dumped by the Yanks.

Me: Derek Jeter is nowhere even close to being in the same category as Ali, Jordan and Ruth.

Ian: This truth could color the negotiations between captain and club and potentially blow up what has been a blissful union. Much more likely, Jeter and his agent, Casey Close, and Yankees general manager Brian Cashman will agree to agree on the length and value of a new contract.

I believe a fair deal would be for four years at $23 million per.

Me: This is why Ian is not on our list of GM candidates. $23 million year for a broken-down, range-less, homely cheater is "fair?"

Ian: Yes, I understand such a deal would vastly exceed what Jeter would get on the open market. I understand there were times this year when it seemed the leadoff hitter wouldn't have gotten the ball out of the infield if he were swinging an oak tree. I understand that we're likely to see more of the 2010 Jeter than the 2009 Jeter over the course of the next deal.

Me: You are correct, Ian.

Ian: But I also understand that these will be among the most unique contract talks in the history of American team sports. Jeter is untouched by scandal, beloved by the masses, defined by his intangible grace. His worth is better measured by a quarterly report, not a box score.

Me: GAG!!!!

Ian: Jeter has used Yankee tradition and mythology to his own financial benefit, and there's nothing wrong with that, either. So at the end of a $189-million deal, how does a team that was just dominated by the Texas Rangers in the American League Championship Series commit four years and $92 million to a declining star who was more problem than solution against Texas?

Me: This is a moment of clarity to suggest that there is at least a partial bulb flickering in the O'Connor attic. He knows the truth, but chooses to ignore it.

Ian: If A-Rod is signed for seven more years, Jeter has a right to ask for four. Remember, A.J. Burnett is under contract for three more seasons. Doesn't Jeter deserve at least one more year of security than old reliable?

On the money front, Rodriguez was given a 10-year, $305-million contract three years back that included a $30 million bonus for breaking the career home-run record. A-Rod's subsequent steroids confession forever tainted his homer-happy pursuit and embarrassed the franchise, but he's still likely to collect the full $200 million and change left on the deal, bonus included.

Me: They're both bad contracts over the long haul. But I'm guessing that Arod will be more worth it than Jeter.

Ian: Why can't Jeter ask for a figure less than half of A-Rod's guarantee? Some suspect Jeter will need to take a drastic pay cut and settle for, say, a $12-15 million salary, but would he ever accept a lower average wage than Burnett's $16.5 million?

Me: By this logic, RA Dickey can ask for $13 million since Ollie is getting $12.

Ian: Now on to the cash. Jeter made $22.6 million this year while suffering through his worst statistical season. But the Yankees print money, they're the founding fathers of the outlandish contract and, of greater consequence, they want Jeter to retain his heart-and-soul standing with the team. There's no need to diminish him by demanding that he take a pay cut. If one athlete of this generation deserves to be overpaid, it's Jeter. A token, thanks-for-the-memories bump to $23 million would suffice.

Me: Jeter's performance is what diminishes him, not his take home pay.


Just had to vent!

[Benjamin Grimm]

I don't know what I'd rather see: The Yankees getting burned on a long-term expensive contract to Jeter, or Jeter having to finish out his career in Pittsburgh or Kansas City.

[Guest Edgy DC]

four years at $23 million per

I think Jeter could get that much on the open market. (Castillo got more three years ago.) And I think the Yanks will pay him more than that.

Wait... I read that as a total. Twenty-three million per?!?!

[Ceetar]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: I don't know what I'd rather see: The Yankees getting burned on a long-term expensive contract to Jeter, or Jeter having to finish out his career in Pittsburgh or Kansas City.

I'm torn as well. Guess it depends if we think they can actually get 'better' at SS without him?

Look at the Red Sox troubles finding a good SS. Think of the bidding wars those two will have over prime targets? (err, can we lock up Reyes now please?)

[Guest Edgy DC]

Key phrase:

But the Yankees print money...

Well, um, cool.

[Frayed Knot]

O'Connor's sometimes over-the-top analogies aside, he's right in that this will be one of the more interesting contract discussions in recent memory and he hits on the factors why. Age, ego, the economy, 'branding', good-will and other pr components are all going to play a role above and beyond the usual laws of supply & demand and perhaps the most interesting thing is the question of who gets hurt more if it comes down to either side holding to their particular number and walking away.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

That's against the law.

I don't know what I'd rather see: The Yankees getting burned on a long-term expensive contract to Jeter, or Jeter having to finish out his career in Pittsburgh or Kansas City.

For me, it gots to be the former. The latter is painful, but the former, while also being painful in esse, sets up a potential heapin' helpin' of how-do-we-Old-Yeller-this-guy awkwardness the likes of which you've never seen.

[Ceetar]

That's against the law. I don't know what I'd rather see: The Yankees getting burned on a long-term expensive contract to Jeter, or Jeter having to finish out his career in Pittsburgh or Kansas City. For me, it gots to be the former. The latter is painful, but the former, while also being painful in esse, sets up a potential heapin' helpin' of how-do-we-Old-Yeller-this-guy awkwardness the likes of which you've never seen.

That's fair. Also, him finishing his career poorly with the Yankees will help tarnish his image with the 'fans' more than him sucking elsewhere.

[Guest Edgy DC]

He's going to get his 3,000th hit this season. With a healthy dose of good luck and the DH available to them, he's young enough to make a run at 4,000 and the all-time record. That's too much for a smug publicity machine to give up, and they'll pay through the nose for him.

[Centerfield]

Derek Jeter is worth no less than 5 years, $150 million.

Can you put a price tag on clutch? The Yanks should sign him and consider themselves lucky.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Francessa yesterday in the course of a short conversation with Sweeny declared Jeter was worth $10 million, then $15 million and then $20 million just for being Jeter. So you can see how he worked out the math in his head.

The pressure on the MFYs will be enormous. They'd prolly be better off giving him as piece of the team or something.

[Frayed Knot]

Edgy DC wrote: He's going to get his 3,000th hit this season. With a healthy dose of good luck and the DH available to them, he's young enough to make a run at 4,000 and the all-time record. That's too much for a smug publicity machine to give up, and they'll pay through the nose for him.

For 4,000 he'll need next season (when he turns 37 mid-year) and then five more maintaining his 2010 hit pace.
He's then 42 and two full-ish seasons away from catching Rose.

I certainly don't think they give him a deal for that many years in one chunk.

[metirish]

The wildcard here is Cashman who doesn't seem the sentimental type when it comes to such nonsense, although this one will test him?

I do wonder when the likes of O'Connor reads back over his just submiited work if he feels a little ashamed at how bad it all reads, he should be in PR work.

[Guest metsguyinmichigan]

I think the phrase "Jeter is untouched by scandal, beloved by the masses, defined by his intangible grace." should disqualify him from being allowed to write ever again.

"Intangible grace?" Is he a ballet dancer?

[Guest themetfairy]

metsguyinmichigan wrote: I think the phrase "Jeter is untouched by scandal, beloved by the masses, defined by his intangible grace." should disqualify him from being allowed to write ever again. "Intangible grace?" Is he a ballet dancer?

Now my appetite for dinner is gone....

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

It's intangible grace. Which means he's a ghost ballet dancer.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Oooh... like Patrick Swayze!

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

When you also take into account their employ of the stoic, pain-don't-hurt Texan, it seems they're Doubling-Down in the Bronx, Swayze-archetype-wise.

[seawolf17]

Not for nothing, but Jeter DOES print money for the Yanks. They'll pay him $23 million a year and he'll be entirely worth it on the back end, even if he hits .180.

[Frayed Knot]

seawolf17 wrote: Not for nothing, but Jeter DOES print money for the Yanks. They'll pay him $23 million a year and he'll be entirely worth it on the back end, even if he hits .180.

It's not like Yanx fans are going to suddenly stop showing up the minute he's gone. Oh a handful will, but if they stay a good team despite - or even because - he's no longer there in his fading years (and, say, Hanley Ramirez is) the fans will still come and they'll still print money.
Obviously he is worth something to them over & above market value for what he provides which is the part that makes this so interesting. How much and for how long is that good will worth?

[Guest Edgy DC]

Frayed Knot wrote: Edgy DC wrote: He's going to get his 3,000th hit this season. With a healthy dose of good luck and the DH available to them, he's young enough to make a run at 4,000 and the all-time record. That's too much for a smug publicity machine to give up, and they'll pay through the nose for him. For 4,000 he'll need next season (when he turns 37 mid-year) and then five more maintaining his 2010 hit pace. He's then 42 and two full-ish seasons away from catching Rose. I certainly don't think they give him a deal for that many years in one chunk.

I agree, but the train starts now.

I say he gets four years, $80 milllion, with incentives that could take it to $100 million. Of that $20 million in potential bonuses, he'll hit on $7 million worth.

I have foreseen it.

[Frayed Knot]

So that would set the Yanx back approx $50mil for just Jeter & ARod in the season (2014) they turn 40 & 39.
COOL !!!

Beyond that, [u:1xrn799w]with no decline[/u:1xrn799w] in either effectiveness or playing time, Jeter ends that contract at 40-1/2 y/o and 3,600 hits.

[Willets Point]

Maybe the Mets can sign him. If he's willing to move to second.

[seawolf17]

Willets Point wrote: Maybe the Mets can sign him. If he's willing to move to second.

In Buffalo. On a split contract at the major league minimum.

[Fman99]

Low end, he gets akin to what Jorge got -- 3 years at 13/14 mil per. High end, 5/75.

Mad Dog thinking out loud figured on the open (non-MFY) market he'd get a 1 year, 6-7 million deal with an option. Basically, what Piazza got from SD post-Met.

[Guest Rockin' Doc]

I hope the Yankees dig deep and give Jeeter a very lucrative, long term deal. The longer and more more expensive the better in my view. I want the Yankees saddled with a painfully bad contract. To me that would be the perfect gift that just keeps giving.

In a few more years, Jeeter will have the range of a lethargic sloth with a valium addiction, so I want him to remain a Yankee fixture at shortstop for many years to come.

[G-Fafif]

Rockin' Doc wrote: In a few more years, Jeeter will have the range of a lethargic sloth with a valium addiction.

A lethargic sloth with a valium addiction who knows how to win.

[Guest Edgy DC]

G-Fafif wrote: Rockin' Doc wrote: In a few more years, Jeeter will have the range of a lethargic sloth with a valium addiction. A lethargic sloth with a valium addiction who knows how to win.

A lethargic sloth with incomparable grace with a valium addiction who knows how to win.

[MFS62]

Fman99 wrote: Mad Dog thinking out loud figured on the open (non-MFY) market he'd get a 1 year, 6-7 million deal with an option.

OK, so that was Mad Dog, so we have to consider the source.
BUT.
Let's say Cashman plays realistic hardball and doesn't make an offer, or Jeter gets pissed off at a lowball try and says he wants to listen to offers from other teams.
If you are a GM of another major league team, do you offer Jeter a contract?
If yes, how much money per year? How many years?
If no, why not?

Later

[Benjamin Grimm]

He's a player with talent, and would have value to some teams in the right role. If I was a GM, and I thought he, at his current level, could help the team, I'd offer him a contract that is in line with what kind of production I'd expect.

His value to the Yankees is greater than it is to anyone else. I don't expect any other teams to make a competitive offer, unless things really fall apart between Jeter and the Yankees, which seems unlikely.