During the MLB All-Star game, yours truly made a remark that Derek Jeter's farewell tour was taking away from the game and becoming all about the Yankees shortstop. This columnist was immediately labeled a 'Yankee hater', and a 'Jeter hater' and one close friend even went as far as to call me "un-journalistic". That's alright, as this guy has been called worse in his life (often by his own family). We can only imagine the backlash this author is going to receive when he issues this next statement though: The New York Yankees should trade Derek Jeter before the trade deadline today.
OK, now that you've had a moment to clean up the drink you just spit out, allow us to explain.
It's no secret that Derek Jeter is a first-ballot Hall-of-Famer. He is one of the greatest shortstops ever to grace the diamond. He is arguably the greatest Yankee to ever play and that's saying something for such a historic franchise. Jeter is second on the all-time Yankee list in runs scored (only behind The Babe), first in hits (the only Yankee in the storied franchise to have 3,000), first in doubles, sixth in RBI, first in stolen bases and first in games played. Heck, he's even ninth in home runs and Jeter isn't even known for his power.
The problem doesn't reside in Jeter, it's in the Yankees as a team. They're mediocre. At 55-51 (a mere 25-26 at home) they are average. We're aware that they are only 4 1/2 games back in the division and only 2 games back of a wild card. Let's be realistic though. They have little to no chance at a title this year and that's what Jeter deserves in his final season. He deserves to have his last game mean something.
The Oakland A's and the L.A. Angels of Anaheim are both playing over .600 baseball and one of them will more than likely represent the American League in this year's World Series. Do you believe the A's couldn't use Jeter's playoff experience and leadership? Oakland was a staple in the postseason for the beginning of the century but just re-entered it two seasons ago. They've been bounced both times by the Detroit Tigers. Jeter can be the one to lead the young A's. Oakland is in "win now" mode.
Maybe the Yankees don't want to trade Jeter within the American League just in case they actually sneak into the playoffs and somehow face the A's. Hey, if Leonardo DiCaprio can still be Oscar-less then anything in this universe is possible. In that event there is only one logical option. Trade Jeter to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
It all makes perfect sense. L.A. is battling San Francisco for the division. The Dodgers are a young and inexperienced team. Jeter has a history with Dodgers manager Don Mattingly. Mattingly was Jeter's hitting coach in NY from 2004-2006 and bench coach in 2007. Under Mattingly, Jeter hit his 2nd most home runs in a season and had the second most RBI in a season. Under Mattingly's tutelage, Derek Jeter missed a batting title by only three percentage points in 2006. Jeter would be a great mentor to Yasiel Puig and teach him the right way not only to play the game but conduct yourself on and off the field.
Jeter deserves to go out with style and flair. His last game shouldn't be meaningless. The great career shouldn't go out with a whimper but with a great bang. Can you imagine Jeter's last game in his career coming at Fenway Park against the hated Red Sox? Not exciting like the homer he knocked for his 3,000 career hit, but depressing going out in front of the "Green Monster" for his curtain call.
Ray Bourque is remembered as one of the greatest Boston Bruins in the hockey team's history, not as a Colorado Avalanche despite winning his only championship with the latter. Joe Namath is in Canton as a Jet, not as an L.A. Ram where he finished his career. The point being that Jeter will always be a Yankee. He will have his number 2 retired and his plaque in monument park. The Yankees need to rebuild for the future and Jeter needs to go out a winner. So to the New York Yankees, this writer says this: There's still a day left until the non-waiver deadline, so make it so.