The Problems With Jeter's New Deal

(Courtesy of the AP)

I don't think there are many out there who thought Derek Jeter wouldn't be playing for the Yankees in 2014.  I also don't think there are many out there, myself totally and completely included, who thought Jeter would be playing for the Yankees on a new, higher-dollar contract in 2014.  The announcement of Jeter's new 1-year/$12 million yesterday afternoon was confusing to the say the least, as there seemed to be little real reason for it to happen.  The subsequent discussion and differing information on the luxury tax implications of the new deal made the situation even more confusing, and the latest reports on those figures make the deal look like a poor decision on the part of the Yankees.

Regardless of average annual values or luxury tax implications, the move to re-sign Jeter to this new deal wasn't a good one yesterday and still isn't today.  It has nothing to do with money and nothing to do with Jeter's production potential next season.  Once again, what makes this move a bad one is what it says about the direction the Yankee franchise is taking.

Report: Yanks Have Almost Made Up Their Minds On QO Decisions

Qualifying offers have to be made by Monday, and according to Jon Heyman's latest report, the Yankees are on the right path with their decisions.

Heyman reported yesterday afternoon that the Yankees will make qualifying offers to Robinson Cano and Hiroki Kuroda, and they're "leaning" towards making one to Curtis Granderson although they're still undecided there.  Granderson, as I've mentioned before, makes a ton of baseball sense for the Yankees next year, but that extra $14.1 mil tacked onto next year's payroll could be a problem in trying to get below the luxury tax threshold.  After seeing the fancy accounting moves the team made yesterday to re-sign a 40-year-old shortstop, that goal still seems to be the primary one.

The best news to come out of Heyman's report?  Confirmation that the Yanks won't be extending a qualifying offer to Phil Hughes.  Not that that comes as a surprise at this point, just a relief.