MLB

Why Derek Jeter thinks owning a team is next logical move

Derek Jeter doesn’t plan to leave baseball for good when he retires following his 20th season.

The Yankees’ captain would like to be an owner one day.

“That’s the next goal, buddy,” he said at his 18th annual Turn 2 Foundation dinner at the Sheraton in Midtown Sunday night. “Calling the shots, not answering to someone, that’s what interests me.

“I’d like to think I would be good one.”

If Jeter does become an owner, don’t expect him to emulate George Steinbrenner, ripping his players in the media and getting rid of managers left and right.

“I’d probably be a little bit more behind the scenes than the Boss,” he said. “But I learned a lot of things from the Boss.”

When asked if he would be interested in owning the Yankees if the Steinbrenner family ever decided to put the team up for sale, he joked, “You got some money for me?”

Jeter said he has no interest in managing because of the travel and time it demands.

“I want no part of that,” he said with a smirk. “Then I got to answer your questions every day.”

Jeter said he has yet to reach out to any specific owners or gauge interest. But he plans to do so after the season ends. He said he has no interest in owning a team in any other sport.

As for his final season, Jeter remains optimistic. He has picked it up lately offensively, hitting safely in five of his last six games, and the Yankees (29-26) are in second place in the American League East despite a rash of injuries. However, he hasn’t second-guessed his decision to call it quits.

“There’s always room for improvement,” he said. “But I like what I’ve seen from our guys.

“It’s not bittersweet. It’s not over yet. We’re trying to win.”