The Yankees should respond to this by telling Close to go out and see if he can get a better deal than the 3-year $45 million deal they offered this week. See what other teams are willing to pay for Jeter and his intangibles. The reality is that no team will come close to that offer.This is what Casey Close said Saturday night, after a week of reading what the Yankees have to say about everything:
"There's a reason the Yankees themselves have stated Derek Jeter is their modern-day Babe Ruth. Derek's significance to the team is much more than just stats. And yet, the Yankees' negotiating strategy remains baffling."
Then Close said: "They continue to argue their points in the press and refuse to acknowledge Derek's total contribution to their franchise."
It's pretty unfair for anyone to blame the Yankees for how they're handling these negotiations. What are they supposed to do, just hand him the 6-year $120 million deal he probably wants because he's DEREK JETER?
I don't think so.
It's not their fault that Jeter--at 36--just happens to be coming off his worst season ever. Maybe if he hit .320 last year the Yankees negotiating wouldn't have to be so baffling.
