Reports: Yankees, Derek Jeter closing free-agent contract gap

Apparently, Tuesday’s meeting with Derek Jeter and his agent, Casey Close, in Tampa, Fla., has spurred the Yankees to hike their initial three-year, $45 million offer to the perennial All-Star shortstop.

Numerous published reports, including one from ESPN.com, indicate that the Yankees on Thursday submitted a new and presumably increased offer to Jeter, though details of the proposal were unknown.

The two sides reportedly have continued meeting in Tampa after weeks of negotiating through the media, which led to several well-chronicled jabs between the organization and the Yankee captain.

Close initially asked for a four- to five-year deal worth between $22 and $24 million per season. During Tuesday’s meeting, however, Close was asked by the Yankees to come back to the table with a more reasonable request.

The Yankees would like to complete negotiations with Jeter, 36, before heading into Monday’s annual MLB Winter Meetings in Orlando, Fla., where they are expected to be the main suitors for Texas left-handed ace Cliff Lee.

Jeter, who made $189 million over the past 10 years, can become the first Yankee ever to reach 3,000 hits this season if he remains in pinstripes.