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'I play to win' Awaiting deal, Jeter happy to be a Yankee for life
Updated: Tuesday February 06, 2001 12:43 AM
NEW YORK (AP) -- Derek Jeter isn't interested in seeing what he is worth on the free agent market. He wants to stay with the Yankees. "I've said it before: I want to be a Yankee for life. I've been very vocal about that for the last few years," the All-Star shortstop said Monday during an appearance with about 150 New York school children. Jeter's agent and the Yankees have been negotiating a 10-year, $189 million contract that would be the second-largest in sports history. The sides still have details to work out, such as how the money in the last three seasons is divided. Until the deal is finalized, Jeter isn't counting on it. He remembers last year, when Yankees president Randy Levine and agent Casey Close agreed to a seven-year, $118.5 million contract but owner George Steinbrenner wouldn't finalize it. "Last year, from all the things I saw on TV, I was already signed," Jeter said.
Close was in Phoenix on Monday, working on the salary arbitration case of Milwaukee pitcher Jamey Wright, which is scheduled for a hearing Wednesday. Levine remained in New York, preparing for the arbitration hearing of Yankees closer Mariano Rivera, scheduled for Thursday in Phoenix. Jeter, who is coming off a one-year, $10 million contract wasn't concerned that his contract total would be less than the 10-year, $252 million, 10-year deal agreed to in December by Alex Rodriguez and the Texas Rangers. "I don't play for money. I play to win," he said. "Everyone makes good money." In five seasons with the Yankees, Jeter has won four World Series titles, including the last three. He also won the 1996 AL Rookie of the Year award and was voted MVP of last year's All-Star game and World Series. Jeter, 26, joked with the school kids, most of whom were less than half his age. He said baseball was a game of dealing with failure, of learning from mistakes when you make out seven times in each 10 at-bats. One kid asked why so few ground balls got past Jeter. "You didn't pay attention this year. This year was a terrible year for me defensively," said the shortstop, whose 24 errors were nearly double the 14 he made the previous season. As part of a promotion with Fleet bank, Jeter handed out $31,500 in checks to five schools and youth organizations, their students and members recognized for public service work.
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