Expect Jeter, Yankees to be together next season

TAMPA, Fla.

'The message is, last year's over," Derek Jeter said yesterday at Steinbrenner Field, and I swear, from the executives' offices, I heard a "Hallelujah!" from Brian Cashman, a "Sing it, sister!" from Randy Levine and a "Can I get an 'Amen!'?" from Hal Steinbrenner.

After all, who better to hold off than the most cold-blooded employee in your organization? Last year is over not only when it comes to the Yankees' World Series title, but also for Jeter's resurgent campaign.

Jeter can't complain about the Yankees' policy of not negotiating a new contract until the old one has run out, because he would be a hypocrite if he did.

So he'll work his first-ever season as a potential free agent, and if he isn't as satisfied with his circumstances as he professes to be, well, as he would say to a teammate who moped: Tough.

"They have every right to do whatever they want to do," Jeter said, in a characteristically smooth performance. "This is their organization, and they can have whatever policy they want. I don't have an issue with that."

When I asked Jeter whether he would put the same policy in place if he owned a team, a repeated desire of his, he smiled and said, "I don't know."

At age 35, Jeter won't go changing on us. He is who he is. He prides himself for not overcomplicating his life, and he doesn't respect those who commit such a mistake.

I don't believe that Jeter, finishing the 10-year, $189-million contract he signed in 2001, gladly accepts the situation. He revealed that his agent, Casey Close, reached out to Cashman this past winter to gauge whether an extension could happen. Given Jeter's discipline when it comes to public speaking, he clearly wanted to get that information out there, likely to score more points with the fans: "See? He wants to stay!"

Yet I do think that Jeter understands the Yankees' position, from a business standpoint: Why commit to someone before it becomes mandatory? Furthermore, Jeter put up such a terrific 2009 season that, even if the team policy didn't exit, it behooves the Yankees to see what the shortstop's 2010 looks like.

And it would shock me if his status did anything besides motivate Jeter to put up an even better 2010. "I'm sure there is going to be a lot of discussion about his contract, but I don't think it's going to distract Derek," Joe Girardi said.

Projecting Jeter's contract is folly at this point - it will depend significantly on what kind of season Jeter puts up - and the usually unflappable Cashman grew tired of such questions. "I can't speculate," he said. "It makes no sense to do so. It's probably dangerous to do so."

It feels like ancient history, but Jeter's desire to be a lifelong Yankee didn't translate into easy negotiations. Jeter defeated the Yankees in arbitration in 1999, and he piggybacked on Alex Rodriguez's 10-year, $252-million deal with Texas to land his very sweet deal.

Now? The Yankees have the upper hand, in my opinion. Jeter has tied his legacy into finishing his career in the Bronx. Which image is more unseemly, Jeter in a Tigers uniform or Hanley Ramirez in a Yankees uniform?

The Yankees will not treat Jeter like any other free agent; his popularity and good citizenship will factor into the calculations. Nevertheless, the payment will not be a blank check. Logic will prevail, with emotion a distant second.

Bet your house that the two sides will re-up, but there could be some tension to get to that point. Not until the season has completed, though.

For now, Jeter will honor his own code, which matches the Yankees' priorities. Which makes them such a good fit, going forward.