Jeter's going to stay with the Skanks. No-brainer.

I'll be pulling for the Terps, although being in North Carolina for going on half of my life, I ride with N.C. State, too.
However, when State and the Terps go head to head, I want Maryland to beat their guts out.

Same thing goes with the Panthers, my "other" favorite football team. I'll be at the game tomorrow and will be rooting for the Ravens to leave scorched earth in Charlotte.

Take the man out of the North, but you'll never take the North out of the man!

The following is just for wayne, who considers it "geek":
Go Orioles!
Go Ravens!
Go Terps!

Of course Jeter isn't going anywhere, because no other team in their right mind would give a declining 36 year old shortstop $21 million, and I doubt many would sign him for 3 years, no less 4 or 5. Well, I'm happy for him. At least the Yankees aren't doing him like they did Babe Ruth

The Orioles should get in on the bidding and offer him a 2 year, $10 million/year contract, which is about what he's worth. That would be hilarious.

Every New York Yankees history chronicles the brutal story of the mid-season release of Yankeee legend Phil Rizzuto. That story may be the nadir of the ruthless era when the organization held all the cards in player-organization negotiations.

The way in which Derek Jeter is conducting he side of the negotiations is every bit as disgusting to me--a declining shortstop using his popularity and legendary status as a lever to try and gain a fifth lucrative year from his employer when everyone knows his career will be over. This is the nadir of the players' union holding all the cards in these negotiations.

Any reason why these two sides cannot conduct business with mutual respect and fairness?

Well hopefully someone will at least drive up the price for NY. As for Jeter's negotiating standpoint- I don't see anything wrong in him recognizing that his value to the Yankees goes far beyond his individual statistics. His leadership on the team and popularity with the fans both carry immense value to the Yankees- not to mention the bottom line impact of Jeter hitting important career milestones as a Yankee (as well as a Cal Ripken-esque send-off year preceding his retirement). Why should the team keep all that value to itself, instead of paying the man his fair share?

Peter- I'm increasingly troubled by the Orioles stance (which is then parroted by the Sun) that Baltimore will never be in the running for a top free agent. I understand that New York spends more money on players, but the difference is a 2x-4x margin over what the Orioles should be spending, not 10x or 100x (as MacPhail would imply). This should mean that the Yankees would have the advantage in getting the MOST top free agents, but not that they should be able to get EVERY top free agent.

A team in the Orioles' position isn't going to be able to sign the top three free agents every year, but they should be able to make a strong run at capturing one top player every few years, to complement the homegrown talent. I'm disappointed that MacPhail (with the Sun's acquiescence) seems to be set on ignoring the tier one talent altogether, for several reasons. First, MacPhail clearly overestimates his ability to find "bargain" players who can contribute meaningfully to the team. His failed experiments lead to losses and deter the development of this team, and they end up costing millions that could have been spent on better players (despite MacPhail's spin that these bets have no cost). Second, by failing to even seriously bid on top talent, the Orioles allow the Yankees and other teams to have the best players more cheaply than would otherwise be the case. So in sum- we miss out on the talented players that would mean the difference for this team, the ones MacPhail gets instead perform terribly and waste the fans' money, and we end up letting the Yankees' get the top players for less than they would otherwise have to pay.

Why can't someone call Andy on this fallacy. The Yankees spend 2x or 3x what we do- there is no reason why they should get 10x the top free agents.

Pete,
He's not going anywhere for several reasons. NYY are the only team that he iw worth more than $10M per year and the NYY are the only team he can attempt to extort more than the two years he deserves.

As a Yankee hater, I love DJ and all he does, but MLB is a business and most decisions are based on dollars and sense. I think Hal Steinbrenner may be more fiscally conservative than his daddy. But the Yanks usually make smart deals towards the end of contracts if you recall Bernie WIlliams, Paul O'niel, Giabi, Chambliss, now none of these guys were Captains, but besides the really stupid 10 year deal in which they have 6 more years of paying the declining Roider A-Rod, I can't see them blowing Jeter out of the water!

Just to compare teams, If Jeter gets $10M per for a team where he would probably be the 6-7 best player that would still be significantly more than the O's will pay their top player!

The truth will set you free!

Pete--"My take: Jeter not going anywhere"

Wow, you must really think your readers need the lowest common denominator.

This is akin to--

My take: Secretariat was an exceptional thoroughbred

My take: Frank Robinson put the Orioles over the hump in 1966

My take: The Yankees will continue to wear pin-striped uniforms

My take: Don Budge was a fine tennis player and a really tall guy

My take: Norfolk State has a great marching band

My take: Blue crabs steamed with Old Bay seasoning are delicious

..............................................................................................
Pete's reply: Oh, stop nit-picking. I had just gotten back from vacation.

Pete--I knew you could take it. So I had to deal it. Look, take a break from Bleak House (where are you now, page 367?) and sit back and enjoy the Coen brothers' Blood Simple.

That's a movie that stands up to repeated viewings.

Anyway, that's my take.

Pete,

Outta curiosity, could a team include a manager as part of a trade package?

I ask this, not because I think Showalter should be traded, but if a team inquired on it based on a need basis. Just curious, that's all.

I mean, unless the person was a player-manager at the time of the trade, I've never heard of a manager being traded before. Is there a rule against it? I'd assume that if you're wearing a uniform and there isn't a no-trade clause in the contract, it is possible. But I don't know. Do you?

Thanks!

dave -

It doesn't happen often - Randy Winn for Lou Pinella is the only example I can think of - but managers can be traded.

Pretty stupid though, I think. If there's a manager out there that you think highly enough of that you're willing to acquire him in such an unorthodox way, it's likely that the player you'll have to trade will be much more valuable to your team than said manager.