Bernie on Jeter: I don't think he's going anywhere
Photo credit: AP | Former New York Yankees outfielder Bernie Williams throws out a ceremonial pitch before Game 4 of baseball's American League Championship Series between the Yankees and Texas Rangers Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2010, in New York.
Galleries
Countdown: Top 10 Yankees of all-time
Baseball's top free agents this offseason
reader photos
Your Yankees photos
Web links
Yankees blog: E-Boland & the Bombers
WAYNE, N.J. - Father Time is quite the sprinter, Bernie Williams acknowledged, but the former Yankee doesn't believe ex-teammates and current free agents Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera are soon to be run down.
"The laws of nature say there's got to be a point that will have to move on," he said, "but hopefully not next year."
The centerfielder-turned-guitarist spoke to reporters Friday night at William Paterson University before performing with the school's jazz band.
2010 Recap: Postseason coverage | Season tracker
Yankees fan zone: Blog | Box scores | Standings | Stats
Williams said Jeter, 36, hasn't sought his advice on free agency, nor would he have much to offer, but he hopes the star shortstop will reach an agreement on a contract extension with the Yankees, and amicably.
"I don't think he wants to go anywhere," Williams said of Jeter, a teammate from 1995-2006. "He's one of the pillars of the team, definitely one of the great parts . . . He means so much to the city. Hopefully, they'll come down to a decision with and work it out."
Though he thinks the "Core Four" still has plenty to offer, the former All-Star seems to have come to grips with his baseball career being over. Williams hasn't played professionally since 2006 - his hiatus interrupted by a brief showing in the 2009 World Baseball Classic - but he never officially retired.
"I think that might be coming this year," said Williams, who batted .281 with 12 homers in his last season. "I think [Don] Mattingly said it takes a player [mentally] maybe four or five years to come to the realization that you've got to move on."
