Jeter to remain in pinstripes, Derek Jeter and New York Yankees agree on contract terms

It’s a done deal; Derek Jeter will stay with the Yankees.

We reported earlier today that the New York Yankees and Derek Jeter were close to a deal.  Now, according to the New York Daily News, pending a physical, a deal is done that guarantees Jeter $48 million over the next three years, with a player option for 2014. The option is worth $8 million with another $9 million in incentives, or Jeter can take a $3 million buyout instead, meaning he's guaranteed a minimum of $51 million if he doesn't exercise the option and $56 million if he does.  This contract will carry Jeter through to the age of 39, so there is a great chance he will retire while still in pinstripes.

To get the other $9 million in incentives, Jeter will have to finish in the top six of AL MVP voting, as well as winning the Gold Glove, Silver Slugger, ALCS MVP or World Series MVP.   Some of Jeter’s deal will be for deferred money, but at an average annual salary of around $16 million, it makes him the highest-paid shortstop in baseball. After all is said and done, Jeter will be taking a $2 million pay cut, not bad for a player who is 36 and coming off of his worst season ever.

With Jeter signed the Yankees still have more deals to sign.   Mariano Rivera is expected to receive a two year, $30 million contract, and then Brian Cashman will continue to pursue Cliff Lee, in what the New York Yankees are terming their top priority for the off season. 

Derek Jeter and New York Yankees close to a deal

I almost wrote about this on Thanksgiving, but the spirit of the holiday kept me from being negative.  The resigning of Derek Jeter has been a source of consternation for fans.  Mock up photos of Jeter in Red Sox and Angels uniforms did not help the situation.  There was anger at the Yankees for not just giving the “franchise” what he wanted to keep him on the team.  There was anger towards Jeter’s agent for pushing for a ridiculous amount of money considering Jeter’s age, 36, and declining numbers.  From a purely statistical point, Jeter is not worth what he used to be.

Now it appears that Derek Jeter, or should we say his agent who seems to be driving this engine, is on the verge of agreeing to a three-year contract that will pay him in the range of $45 million to $51 million. The deal will probably include an option for a fourth year too.  It is expected that it will all be resolved and signed by Sunday evening.

Yes, Jeter will take a pay cut of $6 million a year, but he will still remain the highest-paid shortstop in baseball. In turn, The Yankees will give him more than the three years and $45 million they initially offered, but it will be far less than Jeter was asking.

Ultimately, if Jeter retires a Yankee, it will increase his post career value.  In the end, its what fans wanted and secretly what both the Yankees and Jeter wanted.  I think Jeter’s agent could care less; money is the motivator for agents, bigger deal, bigger commission.

Chicago Cubs third baseman, Ron Santo, dies at age 70

I have two 6 inch binders of cards that are special to me.  They are separated from the rest of my collection so I can easily look at then, or show them off when someone visits.  In these binders you'll find the usual suspects, Aaron, Mays, Mantle, Koufax, Bench, etc.  But there are also the cards of those players who might not have had the huge numbers of these members of the Hall of Fame, but had just as much impact.  Ron Santo is in these binders.

Ron Santo, the one of the greatest players in Chicago Cubs history, who should be in the Hall of Fame, died, Thursday night, at the age of 70.  The fact that he made it to 70 is amazing considering the battle with medical issues he endured.  Santo was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes at age 18.  After retiring as a player, Santo underwent surgery on his eyes, heart, bladder and his legs.  After numerous attempts at correcting his leg problems, they had to be amputated.  Most recently, Santo was dealing with bladder cancer and complications from that lead to his death.

Santo's cards will remain in my special binders, HOF or not.  As far as I'm concerned, he earned the right to be there.

Alexander Ovechkin rips packs of cards. Huge hit, major mojo, interesting reaction.

I love this video.  It gives you a little insight into the personality of Washington Capitals star and reigning two-time MVP, Alexander Ovechkin. You’ll remember we covered the recent eBay auction of his rookie card that sold for close to $9,200.  You can link to the story here.

In this video Ovechkin is at a private meet and greet sponsored by Upper Deck.  Collectors and Ovechkin super fans got the opportunity to “talk” with Alex and win some higher-end Upper Deck packs like the pack of O-Pee-Chee Premier Hockey Cards Ovechkin is opening in the video.  Check out Ovechkin’s reaction to pulling a sick card, the kind of hit we all would like to pull. 

Topps announces their 2010 All-Star Rookie Team, but did they choose wisely?

Starting back in 1959, Topps selected one rookie in each baseball position in addition to a left handed, right handed and relief pitcher to form a Rookie All-Star team.  Then rookie, Willie McCovey was selected to the first team.  They’ve continued this tradition each year with Hall of Fame players like Joe Morgan,  Rod Carew, Tom Seaver, Johnny Bench, Andre Dawson and Ozzie Smith making the cut.  Here is their selection for the 2010 Topps Rookie All-Star team:

1B: Gaby Sanchez, Florida Marlins

2B: Neil Walker, Pittsburgh Pirates

3B: Danny Valencia, Minnesota Twins

SS: Starlin Castro, Chicago Cubs

OF: Austin Jackson, Detroit Tigers

 OF: Mike Stanton, Florida Marlins

OF: Jason Heyward, Atlanta Braves

C: Buster Posey, San Francisco Giants

RHP: Stephen Strasburg, Washington Nationals

LHP: Jaime Garcia, St. Louis Cardinals

RP: Neftali Feliz, Texas Rangers

OK Topps.  I know this is your list, but I've got a problem with it.

Let's take the obvious players out of the discusion.  No one should have a problem with Sanchez, Walker, Valencia, Jackson, Heyward, Posey, Garcia, or Feliz.  That leaves Castro, Stanton, and Strasburg.

On second thought, I'll concede Castro.  But what about Stanton?  Anyone think that should have been Brennan Boesch?  But even on that one, I could go either way.

The one that troubles me is the most hyped player in quite a while, Strasburg.  I know...  I know... he had an amazing start, set some records early and looked like he could actually come close to living up to the hype.  I know that he was a huge boost to card collecting at the beginning of the year.   But he pitched in a total of 12 games, 68 innings of work all together.  Can you think of another Right Handed Rookie Pitcher for this spot?  How about Wade Davis?  His performance this year was good enough to earn 11 out of a potential 28 votes on the Rookie of the Year balloting.  Yes, against a healthy Strasburg it would be no match, but the point is Strasburg wasn't healthy.

For your sake, and for card collecting, I hope you're right, that Strasburg rebounds and values/demand rebounds with it.  But if it doesn't, I think you just might have overlooked a really good player.

What do you think?

The Topps Million Card Giveaway starts to wind down.

I don't know how many of you have been taking a spin on the old Topps Million Card Giveaway slot machine, but things are winding down.  I have a few codes left and so far I've done OK, nothing great.  Most of my star players are from 1987 to the present.  The oldest card I've pulled is this 1961 Chicago Cubs team card.

I have not completed a single trade while on the site but I get at least 16 trade offers a day.  Mostly for my 1987 Mike Schmidt.

The reason I haven't traded anything is because the offers have ranged from poor to ridiculous, most hovering towards the later.  Here is a prime example of what I mean.

A 2009 Andy Sonnanstine for my 1987 Schmidt.  Would you complete this trade?   Let me put them side by side and let you decide.  

Now I understand that you Beckett heads will tell me "they book about the same" but I'm here to tell you Schmidt beats Sonnastine, 1987 beats 2009.

But here is one trade that has me intrigued.

A 1977 Jesse Jefferson for my 1978 Jose Cardenal.  Let me put these side by side.  See if you can guess why I'm thinking about it.

Well... if you've been reading this blog for a while, and in particular my post "Randy Moss and Tom Brady in a Girl Fight," you know why.  

It is nearly an equal hair for hair trade.

Now... if he had offered a 1976 Oscar Gamble Traded, it would have been a no brainer and a done deal.