The New York Yankees have inked shortstop Derek Jeter to a $12 million contract for 2014 that gives him nearly a $3 million raise.
According to ESPN, despite the fact he is coming off an an injury-plagued season during which he played in just 17 games, team owner Hal Steinbrenner personally negotiated the deal with Jeter.
The shortstop, who turns 40 in June, hit just .190 in 63 at-bats in 2012-13 while battling a dislocated ankle injury he suffered in the 2012 American League Championship Series.
Jeter has indicated he expects to be fully healthy and ready to play by Opening Day next season. "I'm really hoping we will see the Derek Jeter we have always seen," Yankees GM Brian Cashman told ESPN on Friday.
The most recent Jeter-Steinbrenner negotiations lacked the acrimony of the previous one the two engaged in during 2010, when Cashman dared Jeter to find a better deal.
"We understand his contributions to the franchise, and our offer has taken them into account," Cashman said then. "We've encouraged him to test the market and see if there's something he would prefer other than this. If he can, fine. That's the way it works."
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