Brian Cashman wanted Troy Tulowitzki over Derek Jeter in 2010, according to report
New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter, left, and general manager Brian Cashman, right, shake hands following a press conference Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2010 George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Fla. announcing Jeter's signing of his $51 million, three-year contract. Credit: AP / Brian Blanco
Derek Jeter or Troy Tulowitzki?
According to a story in this week's Sports Illustrated by S.L. Price, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman would have preferred Tulowitzki to be his shortstop.
Only 25¢ for 5 months
Derek Jeter or Troy Tulowitzki?
According to a story in this week's Sports Illustrated by S.L. Price, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman would have preferred Tulowitzki to be his shortstop.
When Cashman and Jeter met face-to-face after the 2010 season to negotiate a new contract, Price writes that the conversation got a bit heated.
"Who would you rather have playing shortstop this year than me?" Jeter asked Cashman, according to the story.
"Do you really want me to answer that?" Cashman said.
When Jeter asked for the answer, Cashman told him Tulowitzki.
Jeter, 36 at the time, was coming off a season in which he appeared in 157 games, batting .270 with 10 home runs and 67 RBIs. Tulowitzki was 25 in 2010. He hit .315 with 27 home runs and 95 RBIs for the Rockies that season, and was selected to his first All-Star Game.
"We're not paying extra money for popularity," Cashman told Jeter, according to the story. "We're paying for performance."
In the end, Jeter agreed to a three-year, $51-million deal to stay with the Yankees. But Jeter's relationship with Cashman -- during the remainder of his playing career and in retirement -- "never recovered," according to the story.
"Sometimes honesty hurts," Cashman says in the story. "But if you're being paid to do the job, do the job. You have to honor the job description; if not, you're a fraud or stealing money. You can't fake your way doing this. You either do it or you don't."