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Nice grab, Derek

Bergen Record, January 19, 2000

By Ken Davidoff

Derek Jeter and the Yankees are ready to extend their very successful relationship for a very long time. The All-Star shortstop and the two-time defending World Series champions are close to finalizing a seven-year contract worth almost $119 million, according to baseball sources -- a deal that would make Jeter the highest-paid player in baseball.

And if that weren't enough to satisfy Yankees fans who have yearned to see their young stars tied up to multiyear packages, the Bombers have also come to a tentative three-year contract with left-hander Andy Pettitte worth $25.5 million. That agreement includes an option for a fourth year. Furthermore, the team will avoid arbitration with catcher Jorge Posada, signing him to a $1.25 million deal for 2000.

The Jeter and Pettitte agreements must be approved by George Steinbrenner -- and Jeter will most likely meet with The Boss and take a precautionary physical in the next week -- but that isn't expected to be a major hurdle. Very recently, The Boss apparently underwent a sea change in his philosophy concerning star players who were not yet eligible for free agency.

In the past, the Yankees principal owner strung along his arbitration-eligible players, signing them to one-year deals, committing longer than that only when necessary. In the most high-profile example, Steinbrenner refused to meet Bernie Williams' multiyear demands season after season.

That resulted in hurt feelings on the center fielder's part -- he nearly left for Boston last winter -- and cost the Yanks tens of millions of dollars, for if they had signed him before he entered free agency, they needn't have committed $87.5 million over seven years.

That's ancient history now, though, as the Yankees are avoiding gargantuan headaches by tying up Jeter through 2006 and Pettitte through at least 2002. Jeter, 25, entering his fifth season with the Yankees, will earn an average of almost $17 million per season. That easily surpasses baseball's previous high of $15 million that Dodgers pitcher Kevin Brown makes, as per the seven-year, $105 million contract he signed as a free agent Dec. 12, 1998.

While working out at the Yankees' minor league complex in Tampa, Fla., Jeter told The Associated Press: "Eventually, I'll get a long-term deal. Hopefully, it will be sooner than later. It's out of my hands. We'll see what happens. It's just a matter of time, I think." Jeter would have been eligible for free agency following the 2001 season.

In case something goes wrong with their respective deals, Pettitte -- who could have entered the open market after this season -- and Jeter submitted salaries for the arbitration process, as did four other Yankees. Jeter, who made $5 million in 1999, asked for $10.5 million for 2000, while the Yankees offered $9.5 million. Pettitte, 27, who earned $5.95 million last season, requested $8.45 million. The Yankees submitted a figure of $6.5 million.

While they couldn't have asked for better news than the developments concerning Jeter and Pettitte, the Yanks still have three other arbitration cases for which they must prepare, topped by Mariano Rivera's. The 30-year-old closer wants to be paid $9.25 million for the coming season, a figure that would make him the highest-paid at his position, exceeding San Diego closer Trevor Hoffman's annual average salary of $8 million. The Bombers want to pay Rivera $7.2 million. In 1999, Rivera defeated the Yankees in an arbitration hearing, winning a $4.25 million contract over the $3 million the team preferred to pay him.

Long reliever Ramiro Mendoza, in his first year of arbitration eligibility, asked for $1.7 million to the Yankees' $1.1 million. And journeyman reliever Jason Grimsley put in for $900,000, against $650,000 by the Bombers. The hearings will be held Feb. 1-21 in Tampa.

Should a problem arise with Posada's agreement, the catcher applied for a salary of $1.6 million to the Yanks' $1.1 million.

Last year, the Yanks battled Jeter at an arbitration hearing, arguing that the shortstop was worth $3.25 million rather than the $5 million he wanted. Jeter won the case, surprising many executives and infuriating Steinbrenner so much that he still has not forgiven general manager Brian Cashman for losing the case.

The shortstop followed that hearing by making 1999 the best season of his young career, setting personal bests in most offensive categories. In his four years, Jeter has 807 hits, an average of more than 200 per season. He has become the team's most famous player, as his celebrity has transcended the sport. Twice in the last three years, People Magazine has named him one of its "Most Beautiful People."

In signing Pettitte, the Yankees would commit to a pitcher whom they almost traded last July. After a horrible first four months of 1999, the southpaw reverted to his form of 1996-97 and showed he should be a major factor in the Bombers' future plans.