Please.

Anyway, Happy New Year!

And let’s get #27 in 2009.

If Jeter continues to put up 102 OPS+ seasons like he did in 2008, I would only offer him a one year extension and go year to year from there. If he returns to being a 120 OPS+ hitter, I would give him a three year extension at the expiration of his current contract.

Of course, all of the foregoing is dependent on the Yankees acquiring a top defensive SS, one who could mitigate A-Rod’s loss of range at 3B as he ages.

Since Jeter never did move to CF (sigh), I think he’s a SS for life. Moving him to 1B was never an option, “sure hands” or no, because in his decline, he’ll never hit enough to carry the position. Right now he won’t hit enough to carry it, much less in 3 or 4 years.

On a related note, you know when a poor fielding SS doesn’t matter much? When all your pitchers have great strikeout rates – or are extreme flyball pitchers – or both. And as of right now, I find only one guy on the staff who doesn’t fall into either category (or both) – CM Wang. (I’m presuming Steven Jackson can keep getting Ks like he did last year, otherwise he’s #2.)

Perhaps this is why the Yanks are not showing Wang more love? If they expect Jeter to still play SS regularly in 2013, I can’t imagine having an extreme groundball/low K pitcher for tens of millions on the staff is a good idea.

The trade was made after Rodriguez agreed to move to 3b.

Yes, but speculating on what to do with a 35 yo SS and captain of the team when the inevitable happens is justifiable. Particularly after watching Bernie nose-dive and have to be pulled off the field.

I don’t think anything will happen during this contract, but if the slow erosion of Jeter’s skills continues or speeds up, that next contract negotiation could be, uh, interesting. I have no doubt the Yankees will reward Jeter for being the trouble-free face of the Yankees for 14 years, but I’m not sure they’re going to roll over for him either. If he wants 4-5 years/$100 million, Cashman might balk. He could always get the George Brett treatment and just sign a “life-time” contract after this one expires. Then he slides into either management or vice-presidency of something.

Nothing good will come from… thaaat! >;)

Was he ever asked? Or is this simply a perpetuation of the unsubstantiated charge that Jeter was “too selfish” to move?

[0] Declaring the decline and fall of Jeter based on last year’s numbers may be premature. He was hurt and yet still posted reasonable numbers (indeed, River Ave Blues ran a post yesterday pointing out that Jeter’s relative value/cost was among the highest on the team). Last season may be the anomaly, and this year may see a return to something more along the lines of 2007.

On the other hand, if his numbers continue to dip, or even just remain the same, the we are probably looking at the end game.

This year is the important one for deciding what to do with Jeter, not last season.

As for Pete Abe, does he know about the arms in the minors? Anyway, whatever innings the starters don’t throw will be made up by the bullpen. Don’t discount the Yanks picking up a starter during the season either. Things really can’t get worse than the past few years regarding SP innings, can they?