The days have turned into weeks, turning the stories of Derek Jeter's "imminent" new contract into a blur of false alarms. Pitchers-and-catchers
are almost within our grasp, and yet, we still await Jeter's coronation as
baseball's second-wealthiest player and as the cornerstone of the Yankee
franchise.
People familiar with the endless talks, and those who know George
Steinbrenner's history, say the delay over the 10-year, $189 million deal has
nothing to do with money, but has everything to do with the Boss playing
power politics with Jeter.
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What's all this cash and influence mean? Obviously, that the Yankees' on-field fate will now be Jeter's responsibility. He'll assume the same burden that Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig did in the '20s and '30s, Joe DiMaggio in the '40s, Mickey Mantle in the '50s and Don Mattingly in the '80s. |
Ironically, this isn't war, but the reality every Yankee superstar faces
sooner or later. Steinbrenner needs to prove he wields more
power than anyone else in the Bronx. The Boss is showing yet again this is
his team.
Steinbrenner's Yankees. Not Joe Torre's Yankees. Not Bernie Williams' Yankees. Not even Jeter's, despite the shortstop's enormous talents, his movie-star looks and the widespread appeal to fans, from the hardcore to the love-struck teenage girls.
It's Steinbrenner who decides how much his stars make, and in this case, it's
the Boss who chooses when they get paid.
Lucky for Steinbrenner that Jeter has wanted to be a Yankee since
childhood, and that no amount of provocation will turn him against the
Pinstripes. All winter, Jeter has kept his mouth shut, remained patient and
told reporters the pace of the talks "is out of my hands." Virtually no one
believes Jeter will ever get near free agency next winter.
Instead, he knows his big payday is close -- possibly as soon as Mariano Rivera's arbitration hearing is over, which is why agent Casey Close agreed to postpone Jeter's own scheduled arbitration hearing indefinitely.
That scenario changed on Wednesday, however, when Rivera's arbitration
was postponed due to the firing of his agent, Jim Bronner, during an internal
power struggle with associates.
Without the contentious Bronner in the picture, Rivera -- who was headed
to arbitration for the third straight year -- may finally find a way to sign a
long-term deal after all.
As for Jeter, his deal is actually complete: a guaranteed deal through
2010, which will average $18.9 million per season. Much of Jeter's money will
be backloaded, and he'll make a $14 million per year in 2001 and 2002.
Jeter will also be given full no-trade powers.
What's all this cash and influence mean? Obviously, that the Yankees'
on-field fate will now be Jeter's responsibility. He'll assume the same
burden that Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig did in the '20s and '30s, Joe DiMaggio in
the '40s, Mickey Mantle in the '50s and '60s and Don Mattingly in the '80s and
early '90s.
|  | | Jeter was an MVP twice last season: in the All-Star Game and in the World Series. |
It's Jeter's turn now, after just five years in the big leagues. That's
no small assignment, although Joe Torre said the other day, "If anyone can
handle it, Derek can. He's got a maturity about him that you recognize right
away. Other players feed off him."
That's called leadership, a quality the Yankees will need from Jeter in
the coming years. They may even be leaning more on Jeter as soon as 2001, as the
defending world champions appear more vulnerable than at any time since the
beginning of their renaissance in 1996.
Put it this way: besides Jeter, who among the Bombers still has a
substantial upside? Bernie Williams has found his niche among the elite of
major-league center fielders, but at 32, he's at his peak, averaging 26 home runs
and 107 RBI a year since '96, while batting .324. How much higher can Williams
reach?
Conversely, the Yankees are worried about Tino Martinez and Scott Brosius, both of whom seem to be in decline -- Martinez since 1998 and Brosius since 1999. And what realistic baseball man expects David Justice,
who hit more than 30 homers only twice in his career before last year's 41, to repeat his big season at age 35?
Clearly, the Yankees are counting on their deep starting rotation to
carry them through the summer, with Jeter acting as the offense's backbone.
He seems ready: a dropoff in both home runs and RBI in 2000 (24 HRs to 15, 102 RBI to 73) spurred Jeter
on to a rigorous offseason weightlifting program.
As a result, Jeter is bigger and stronger than ever, and might validate
Torre's prophecy that his shortstop will eventually become a bona fide home
run threat.
"I have no doubt Derek can eventually hit 30 a year," Torre said. "And I
think he can do that while keeping his average up. I used to think he was
more of a .320 hitter than a .340 or .350 hitter, but I've started to change
my mind. He's improved so much in the last two years."
With such achievements comes stardom, which brings wealth, which in the
Yankee family means you become George Steinbrenner's target. Actually, the
Boss has deeded the Yankees' future to Jeter; the fact that he's delaying the
contract means, in a way, the coronation is already upon us.
Bob Klapisch of the Bergen (N.J.) Record covers baseball for ESPN.com. Send this story to a friend | |
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