Jeter: Overhyped & about to be Overpaid

[A.E]

Gold Glove results mixed, as usual

I have to get this out of the way ... Yes, Derek Jeter has just won another Gold Glove.

It's his fifth, which means he's now won at least four more Gold Gloves than he's deserved. By any stretch of the fever-crazed imagination.

The voting doesn't differentiate the leagues. Each voter is required to rank 10 shortstops. This year, 20 shortstops received at least one point in the voting.

Jeter wasn't one of them. Not a single voter thought that Jeter was even the 10th-best shortstop in the major leagues.

Of course, it's not just us. Nobody who really follows baseball believes that Jeter is an outstanding defensive player. The Yankees, who see him every day, don't believe that. The writers who cover the Yankees every day don't believe that. Frankly, I'm not sure the managers and the coaches who actually voted for Jeter believe that.

I think they keep giving him the award as a gesture of respect. In a different sort of society, they might simply bow in his presence, then kiss one of his World Series rings. Or cross themselves whenever Game 3 of the Yankees' 2001 Division Series is mentioned. Instead they somewhat mindlessly give him their Gold Glove support every year, even as everyone who's actually paying attention knows the Yankees would prevent more runs if almost anyone else were playing shortstop.

At best, it's an idiosyncratic choice. At worst, it's just another reminder that the men tasked with this award -- which many people consider serious business -- don't take it seriously. But then, we already knew, didn't we?

Of course, Jeter isn't the only beneficiary of the Yankee halo; Mark Teixeira wins his fourth Gold Glove (and second as a Yankee), Robinson Cano his first. -ESPN

Source: Yanks will overpay Derek Jeter

Derek Jeter is going to be paid Ryan Howard money for putting up Marco Scutaro numbers.

"The Yankees are going to overpay him," said a source with intimate knowledge of the discussions between the team and Casey Close, Jeter's agent. "The question is, how much are they going to overpay him?"

Several sources told ESPNNewYork.com on Monday that while the Yankees have yet to make a formal offer to Jeter -- or to Mariano Rivera, their other high-profile free agent, not to mention Cliff Lee, their primary target in the free-agent market -- offers are currently being prepared for all three.

And the one that is likely to get done first is Jeter's, possibly before Thanksgiving, with Rivera's soon afterward.

Lee's deal -- that is, assuming the Yankees outbid what is expected to be a field of perhaps as many as a half-dozen suitors -- is not expected to get done until mid-December, after the conclusion of baseball's winter meetings, which run from Dec. 6-9 in Orlando.

As for Andy Pettitte, the third member of the Yankees' so-called Core Four to be without a contract this winter, the club plans to wait to hear from the 39-year-old pitcher whether he plans to play again in 2011, a decision club officials believe will not be made until after Thanksgiving.

But the first order of business will be Jeter, whose 10-year, $189-million contract expired last Monday and who officially became a free agent for the first time in his 16-year career at 12:01 a.m. ET on Sunday morning when the Yankees five-day exclusivity window expired.

From conversations with two sources, both of whom requested anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the talks, Jeter's offer is expected to be for three years at somewhere between $15 million and $20 million per season.

That would be a slight paycut from his $21 million paycheck in 2010, but still well above the going rate for a shortstop who hit .270 last year and will hit his 37th birthday two weeks before the next All-Star Game.

"Some people will think the number is unfair," said one source, "And some are going to think it is way too much."

And both sources made it clear that in their opinion, Jeter will be paid more than he is currently worth on performance alone. -ESPN

 

[Phil The Thrill]

This says it all:

Derek Jeter is going to be paid Ryan Howard money for putting up Marco Scutaro numbers.

 

[Mooche]

This says it all:

Derek Jeter is going to be paid Ryan Howard money for putting up Marco Scutaro numbers.

It's about what sells man..

 

[snipezo]

What mooche said.

 

[cruzg24]

I dont feel so bad because Derek Jeter is going to get all that money, he has accomplished a lot with the Yankees and he is currently the face of the franchise. I would overpay to keep him on the Yankees as well, he is a major piece of the Yankees and their dynasty and as an organization its your responsibility to treat him fairly. Heck, players who win 1 ring and with much less accolades get overpaid every season. You also dont want another Yogi Berra incident in which Jeter doesnt want to return to the Yankees for other things. It would also be too weird seeing Jeter in any other uniform, but the pinstripes.

 

[Elite]

Lol @ the guy writing the first article acting like Jeter is terrible. He didn't deserve the Gold Glove award, but he's not a horrible SS, he's about average, but Jon Heyman has repeatedly said on Twitter that the public UZR we're seeing at Fangraphs and various other websites isn't the same as the official UZR's that the MLB teams have. I'm sure he didn't pull it out of his ass so I'm going to believe him. Maybe the official UZR is higher?

Cano finally got some recognition for his defense. He's so smooth out there and turns one of the best double plays in the MLB. He's also got a SS's arm playing at 2B.

 

[A.E]

RESPECT.

Derek is being handed a lot of it this late into his career and though it may be unjust, it certainly wasn't just given to him b/c he's got a pretty face and a catchy name. The man has paid his dues and he's definitely not what he used to be but let's face it, being the captain of the Yankees, for as long as he has, certainly comes with perks. This is the nature of the beast and it won't be long and it will be over. As a Yankee fan, I'd puke to see him play elsewhere. As a realistic Yankee fan, he's gonna need to swallow his pride and move his ass into the outfield pretty soon. As much as his numbers continue to decline, there's still not many I'd rather have at the plate when we desperately need a clutch hit. For as long as I've watched this guy play the game, there's not a whole I have loved more than his slappers into shallow right field. I only find it funny that some are complaining/slightly outraged...when his generous new deal and likely gold glove award were already to be expected.

 

[Giantmetfan07]

Sorry AE, but nobody who puts up .270 avg, 10 HRs, 67 RBIs and strikes out 100 times deserves a pay range of $15M-$20M.

I could understand giving the guy $10M-$12M because of his name selling tickets, merchandise, and being a vocal leader in the clubhouse -- but I wouldn't be surprised if Jeter walked into the first meeting thinking "We'll ask for $10M a year... it's probably too much, but we'll work from there..... $15M to $20M? IM GOING TO DISNEY LAND!"

 

[Phil The Thrill]

Yankees will always overpay though, so doesn't matter to them. They will do anything to keep Jeter in NY.

 

[Giantmetfan07]

but I don't think they need to pay that much to keep him there.... nobody else is going to fork over anywhere close to that much money -- and if he leaves, I think he'd be retiring because I don't think Jeter could picture himself anywhere else.

 

[A.E]

but I don't think they need to pay that much to keep him there.... nobody else is going to fork over anywhere close to that much money -- and if he leaves, I think he'd be retiring because I don't think Jeter could picture himself anywhere else.

Jeter is overpaid when you take a look at his age and his numbers. Bring how much revenue the guys brings in...and yea, he's being paid his fair dues. Derek Jeter is a pop-culture icon of our generation, the freaking face of baseball for a decade, and the best shortstop of our generation. You can't deny his greatness, he's a Yankee captain, and like I already said...that sh*t comes with perks.

You may not think he's worth it but trust me, to every & any Yankee fan, he'd be worth $100 million.