There hasn't been much news in Yankee-land recently, save for one aspect: Derek Jeter, whose negotiations seem to delve into strange and new territory every day. After word came that Jeter was seeking $150 million over six years, it was denied by Casey Close, Jeter's agent. Then it was reported that DJ was asking for 4-5 years at $23-24 million per annum. Who knows what to believe anymore - maybe the 6/150 was leaked by Close to gauge public sentiment. When the media/blogosphere jumped all over it, Close back-tracked and lowered his demand to ~5/120. An interesting note in the NY Times article -
The current offers - three years at $15 million a year by the Yankees and a maximum five years at $23 to $24 million by Close - suggest an obvious compromise in which the two sides would settle at four years and, say, $19 million a year.
$19M/year is almost exactly what Jeter was paid for the last 10 years. It's still a huge overpay though.
- The Orioles are negotiating with Willie Randolph to fill the last vacant spot on Buck Showalter's coaching staff. Willie got a raw deal in Queens and I hope he does well in Baltimore (just not against the Yanks).
- Many local businesses near Yankee Stadium have not benefited from the new park and many have even slumped -
Merchants on 161st Street in the Bronx are expecting this year's holiday shopping season to be dismal, after seeing sales sag ever since the new Yankee Stadium opened more than a year and a half ago.
Local store owners won't even have the uptick in sales that accompanies a Yankees World Series win, as fans return to the neighborhood to buy souvenirs for holiday gifts.
The new ballpark sparked competing businesses and a train station that "diverted foot traffic away from 161st Street." For every pro, there's a con.
- You'll be glad to know Alex Rodriguez and Cameron Diaz are "back on," according to Us Magazine. Do they have a celebrity couple name yet? Is 'Cam-Rod' taken?