The Yankees and Derek Jeter’s camp didn’t talk yesterday. But that’s not necessarily an indication the movement made Tuesday night during a face-to-face meeting in Tampa, Fla., has evaporated from the negotiations.
Ideally, the Yankees would have liked to have heard from Jeter yesterday, because it’s up to the captain and his agent, Casey Close, to advance the talks.
The Yankees could up their three-year, $45 million offer by $5 million or $6 million. Going to a fourth guaranteed year is a slight possibility. A vested option for the fourth year is something Jeter may accept, but it’s unclear if the Yankees are willing to add that to the package.
For a deal to get done, Jeter is going to be the one who makes the bigger concession. The parameters discussed with the Yankees were four or five years at $23 million per, and from all indications that isn’t going to happen.
However, there is no team ready to match the Yankees’ original offer to Jeter, who is coming off a season in which he batted a career-low .270.
After the progress made Tuesday when Hal Steinbrenner, club president Randy Levine and GM Brian Cashman met with Jeter and Close, baseball executives believe progress is being made and a deal could be finalized before the Winter Meetings open Monday.
With Cashman and Levine returning home, Jeter and Close were left to huddle and decide what their next step will be. Knowing how firm the Yankees’ offer has been, the ball is in Jeter’s hands. When the Yankees made their offer it was pointed out that if Jeter accepted it, he would be the highest paid middle infielder in the game.
That title now belongs to Colorado’s Troy Tulowitzki, who will average $15.7 million for the next 10 seasons.
Hank Steinbrenner — who wasn’t at the meeting, the first between Jeter and the club since Nov. 8 — was encouraged by what he heard following Tuesday night’s marathon gathering.
“[I am] confident that Derek will remain with the Yankees, and my brother does, as well,” he said.
That could be a reason the Yankees raise the money because negotiations are often about making the other party feel it’s getting something. Or the Yankees could be anxious to get Jeter done so they can turn their attention to signing Cliff Lee.
Another motivating factor to getting Jeter signed is the PR backlash that could accompany the Yankees giving Lee in the area of $23 million for five or six years and asking Jeter to take a cut.
Rangers president Nolan Ryan and GM Jon Daniels traveled to Lee’s Arkansas home Tuesday for a second time since the 32-year-old became a free agent after the Rangers were beaten in the World Series by the Giants.
If Lee is looking for five or six years and $140 million like many believe he is, the Yankees are the favorite to land him.
But the Rangers could go to five years for less dollars and hope no state tax in Texas and being close to home is enough to keep Lee.
Encouraged by Rangers’ second baseman Ian Kinsler on Tuesday to stay in Texas, Lee told Kinsler to be patient.
george.king@nypost.com