Derek Jeter has been handed a dose of reality, but he simply doesn’t seem to fathom. Jeter thinks he should get paid for loyalty, which is utterly laughable. Loyalty should be thrown out the window and Jeter eventually to be able to firmly grasp that.

Don’t get me wrong, Jeter was the face of the Renaissance of the Yankees in the late 90’s and brought them back to prominence. They weren’t the vintage Yankees until Jeter arrived. That’s not saying Jeter was solely responsible for that, frankly, you could make the argument that Jim Leyritz, catcher, was just as important to their thorough dominance. Steinbrenner assembled everything at the perfect time. The Yankees weren’t as detested until Jeter settled into the pinstripes. Sure they were still a solid team in the 80’s but they weren’t the juggernaut behemoth until number two happened. Outside of Babe Ruth there wasn’t a more influential player to the lavish, storied franchise. Arguably, he’s slightly a level above Gehrig, Mantle and DiMaggio. Now, let me regress to the more significant issue.

If Jeter’s production translates to a contract, it wouldn’t be one worth 15 million a year. He doesn’t get paid for the flip he made against Oakland, the diving catches he made in the stands, or the allegedly clutch hitting he generates. He gets a comission for he’s going to do not what he already has done. A .270 hitter who brought in 67 runners and a downright plummeting production in the field shouldn’t convert to a considerable contract.

The Yankees have this striking amount of leverage with players in that they have the ability to Jeter to go find something else, which no other team will essentially overpay for a depreciating shortstop who brings no tangible production on the field. So, he’ll have no choice to accept the deal that the Yankees have laid out on the table because teams are too bright to do sign him for what he’s asking for. There are other shortstops who have better numbers and can be obtained for a much cheaper price. It’s a completely irrational job on Jeter’s part. It’s perfectly fair and I don’t blame the Yankees one bit. The Yankees want to save money and bank on Cliff Lee because he brings in wins, which Jeter hasn’t been able to recently. Jeter just doesn’t possess any genuine value anymore.

In economic terms there’s something called marginal revenue product (MRP) which determines the level produced when the cost equals the MRP. Other words, you’re worth as much as you bring in. So by adding someone or something, the additional you bring in, is what you’re worth. Jeter is worth .270, but however much you want to quantify is up to the Yankees.

I think Jeter still realizes he doesn’t want to make the mistake for overpaying for an aging player. The same situation is unraveling with closer Marino Rivera. If the Yankees don’t bend, which is the smarter decision, there will be notion that’s obvious: the uniform is more important than those wearing it.

Photo credit: Vernon Bryant/MCT