Hal Steinbrenner won’t be the only businessman in the room.
Responding to Steinbrenner’s comments Monday that the Yankees want Derek Jeter to remain with the Yankees but there is a business to be run, Jeter’s agent said the shortstop sees his upcoming contract negotiations in the same light.
If Jeter approaches business decisions with the single-mindedness he brings to the baseball field, these talks could have some juice between the Yankees and their captain, who is the face of the franchise and among the team’s all-time greats.
“While it’s not our intent to negotiate the terms of Derek’s free agent contract in a public forum, we do agree with Hal and Brian (Cashman’s) recent comments that this contract is about business and winning championships,” Jeter’s agent, Casey Close, said Wednesday.
“Clearly, baseball is a business and Derek’s impact on the sports most valuable franchise can’t be overstated. Moreover, no athlete embodies the spirit of a champion more than Derek Jeter.”
Steinbrenner said Tuesday in a radio interview that there is a deal to be reached but it has to work for both parties.
“I’ve got to try to do my job on behalf of the partnership and our partners and everybody else involved with the organization,” he said on ESPN 1050. “And Hank (Steinbrenner) and I need to keep a level head and realize … that we’re running a business here.”
Cashman addressed the upcoming talks with Jeter last month.
“I don’t know what to expect,” the GM said. “I’m going to keep it simple. He’s a baseball player that we’re trying to sign as we move forward. Derek Jeter, our expectation is he’s our shortstop. He’s the best candidate to play shortstop for this franchise as we move forward. How we define that in a negotiation remains to be seen.”
The Yankees plan to reach out to Close and Fernando Cuza, the agent for Mariano Rivera, in the next couple of days. They hold exclusive negotiating rights with the free agents until midnight Saturday. After that, any team can negotiate with Jeter or Rivera.
Jeter made $21 million this season, the final one of a 10-year, $189 million contract.