Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Salt Lake Tribune - Klapisch: Does Tex signing mean end for Jeter?
New York » At this time next winter, Derek Jeter will be approaching the end of his 10-year, $189 million contract, which has already left the Yankees vexed as to how to proceed. The debate centers on the question team officials have been putting off forever: Is there life after Jeter?
It might seem premature to wonder out loud, but with Mark Teixeira now in pinstripes, the Jeter era may well begin dwindling. Of course, the captain still is enormously popular with the fan base, and he’ll always be the link to the early days of the dynasty. But Teixeira is about to become the most valuable star in the Yankee family.
He is, after all, younger and more productive than Jeter; the numbers aren’t even close. Teixeira is more stable—both on and off the field—than Alex Rodriguez. And the first baseman already has a built-in reservoir of good will in greater New York after having blown off the Red Sox in the 11th hour of his negotiations.
I can’t see the Yankees not retaining Jeter when his contract is over, at least until he gets his 3000th hit. The question is going to be what position he’ll be playing and if he’ll be paid based on his name or on his actual value.
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