Jeter "Angry" That Contract Talks Went Public

From Dan Martin:

"I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t angry at how this went," Jeter said during a press conference in Tampa today announcing the three-year deal worth $51 million, with an option for a fourth season.

Asked whom he was angry at, Jeter said, "I’m not going to point the finger at anyone. We’re one big happy family."

...

"I’m angry at the process and how I was portrayed," Jeter said. "I heard about greed and all of a sudden I had an ego and arrogance."

The shortstop said he didn’t want to become a free agent and told Close not to take calls from other teams.

"I wasn’t negotiating with anybody," Jeter said. "And salary demands? I’m in no position to make salary demands. I thought it was portrayed incorrectly."

...

"I have a lot of years left to play as a productive player," Jeter said. "Criticism is part of the game. I’ve never shied away from that. Yeah, I’m getting older, but so is everyone else in this room. I take it year-to-year. You don’t look to the end of a career when you’re in the middle of a career. I feel I’m in the middle of it. ... I’m going to play as long as I’m having fun."

...

"The thing that bothered me the most was how public it became," Jeter said. "It was uncomfortable. I’ve prided myself on keeping things out of the public and I’m not happy about it. I let my feelings known. I never wanted to be free agent."

Good for Jeter for speaking out and clearing the air. It was hard for many to believe that Jeter was being as greedy as he was portrayed and I'm very glad to find out that that wasn't the case.