The Show.

Every Friday, as the second of three new installments at The Show (the third of which will be coming very soon), is Philly Phriday. I recently commented that being a general sports blogger requires me to be objective, but Philly Phriday is an exception. This is the day that I get to praise/complain about my favorite teams, but there's not much to complain about this week if you're a Philly sports fan. Usually on Philly Phriday I'll zero in on one team or player, however this week is a special week so we're going to do a group post.

When you think about a legendary athlete, past or present, it's hard to think about him adorning colors other than those which accompanied him while he made his mark on the game. Jordan will always be thought of as a Bull, not a Wizard. Smith will always be a Cowboy. Abdul-Jabbar will always be a Laker, Ruth will always be a Yankee, and Jeter will always be a Yankee. However, despite the certain stability of his future legacy as a Yankee, Jeter's current status as a member of the team in which he solidified his legacy is a bit shaky. Jeter is currently in the midst of a contract negotiation with the Yankees, however, the initial deal offered by the Yankees - 3 years, $45 million - may not be enough for The Captain. It's hard to think about Jeter in anything but pinstripes, but if this deal is going to get done both sides have some key factors to consider.

The Yankees are well aware that the 36 year old Jeter isn't going to be around forever. He's headed towards the end of his illustrious career and it's clear that his prime is past him. However, he's still a valuable player that can produce and lead. With that in mind, it's evident why the Yankees are offering what they're offering. Jeter's last contract paid him $189 million over 10 years, and they'd be crazy to offer him anything close to that. You can't pay a player based on his legacy, you have to pay him for what he is. Mike Modano, a future Hall of Famer who will go down as one of the greatest US hockey players ever, is currently playing for the Detroit Red Wings after signing a one year, $1.25 million contract this offseason. It's clear what this deal was about - the Red Wings wanted a seasoned veteran who knows what it takes to win a Stanley Cup, who can be a strong mentor, and who can undoubtedly play a huge leadership role on the team. Mike Modano simply wants to win. He knows he's reaching the end of his career, and because he has accepted this fact, he's able to take less money in exchange for a legitimate chance at winning a Stanley Cup. The Red Wings are able to acquire players at a low price because these players know they have a shot to win. The Yankees are in a similar position. They have the money and talent to compete for a championship year in and year out, and when you consider what they've paid Jeter in the past, as well as the opportunities they'll be able to offer him as his career nears its end, a slight pay cut for the Hall of Fame shortstop should not be too much to ask. I don't know what Jeter wants, but I do know that many players, regardless of what sport they play, want one thing as they reach the end of their careers, and that's to win. If the Yankees are smart, which they appear to be at this point in negotiations, they'll recognize two things: that they can perhaps offer more to Jeter than he can offer to them, and that Jeter should be paid for what he currently is, rather than being paid for the legacy he'll inevitably leave behind when he's done playing.

It's being reported that Derek Jeter's agent is asking the Yankees for $23-$24 million a year for 4-5 years, which makes it seem as though the two sides are seeing a different Derek Jeter. The Yankees see Jeter as a star on the decline, having hit .270 this past year after hitting .334 in 2009. Jeter and his agent see a player who is still worthy of a top-dollar contract that will be able to maintain his game after hitting the back side of 40 years old. If Jeter gets the contract he wants, he'll be playing at 40+ by the time the contract is through, and he'll be gaining more money per year than he did with his last contract. Apparently, the Yankees don't view this as appealing, which is completely understandable. He made about $19 million a year with his last contract, and now he's asking for more per year despite the apparent decline in his game that has the Yankees considering other options. They've already invited Jeter to explore the market which makes you question their desire to bring him back. With that being the case it seems as though a legitimate standoff could take place between these two parties, which means Jeter will have a decision to make. If he's going to stay with the Yankees and sign with the initial offer they proposed he'll most likely end up taking less money than he would if he decided to sign with another team. So he can either fulfill his legacy as a Yankee, perhaps win another championship, and take a bit less money, or explore the market in search of the best deal. To me, Jeter can't lose whichever way he decides to go, but I think the latter is not as respectable a decision, and picking that option could ultimately have a negative effect on his legacy. It seems that his career is on the decline which is why the Yankees aren't willing to pay him what he wants. However, it's perfectly reasonable to believe that another team may step in and offer him the money he's looking for.

The Yankees have the power to get nearly any player they want, which is why this particular situation is so intriguing - maybe they just don't want Derek Jeter that much. It's hard to believe, but this day was bound to come. If Jeter had hit .300 last year it'd be a different discussion, but it seems as if the Yankees believe Jeter is on his way out as a player, and they're either going to pay him less than he wants or go get someone else. That's Yankee baseball. They'll give you the money but you have to prove your worth year in and year out. They don't need to pay you if they can pay someone who they believe is better. It's hard to believe that this would happen to Jeter, who will go down as one of the greatest Yankees ever. Everything he has ever accomplished as a ball player has been in pinstripes: 5 World Series Championships, 11 All-Star games, 5 Gold Gloves and 4 Silver Slugger Awards, just to name a few of his accomplishments. Now, we're seeing the possibility of Jeter adorning something other than the pinstripes. It's hard to imagine him in another uniform, but its worth mentioning that if he does go to another team, no matter how well he does there, he will always be a Yankee.