"They said I had an ego, people said I'm greedy": When Derek Jeter lamented criticism directed at him after 'angry' Yankees contract talks

Going into the 2010 season, New York Yankees slugger Derek Jeter was looking for a new contract. He was looking to get paid, but he was nearing the tail end of his career.

Although he ended up agreeing to a three-year, $51 million contract, Jeter was unhappy with how the negotiations played out. He expressed his frustrations over the process via NBC New York.

"I know they said I had an ego. People said I'm greedy. The perception was greed, when it's a negotiation. I think it all started with my 'salary demands,' which still cracks me up. What position do I have to demand a salary? Give me this, or what? Where am I going?" said Jeter.

Jeter did not like that he was portrayed as a greedy person.

"I was angry about it because I was the one who said I didn't want to do it. I was the one who said I wasn't going to do it. To hear the organization tell me to go shop it when I just told you I wasn't going to - yeah, if I'm going to be honest with you, I was pretty angry about it" he added.

Yankees GM Brian Cashman initially offered Jeter a three-year, $45 million contract and told him to look around if he did not like the terms, which did not sit well with the slugger.

Derek Jeter was determined to stay with the Yankees

New York Yankees - Derek Jeter (Photo via IMAGN)

Playing his entire career with the Yankees up until that point, Derek Jeter had no plans of leaving or shopping around for a better contract when his heart was in the Bronx.

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He went on to play five more seasons in the Bronx before hanging up his cleats. He ended his career with 3465 hits, ranking him sixth all-time, right behind Boston Red Sox great Tris Speaker.

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In 2020, Jeter was inducted into the MLB Hall of Fame, solidifying his astonishing career in New York. He was just one voter shy of going unanimous.

About the author

Jared "Bloomy" Bloom is a journalist covering Major League Baseball at Sportskeeda and a former college baseball pitcher from Illinois, who just graduated with a Master's degree in Sport Psychology.

A writer with over 3 years of experience, Jared is consistently more concerned with quality than quantity, thoroughly checking multiple sources of information, and prides himself in being knowledgeable not just about MLB, but the game of baseball in general. He loves breaking down plays and game-changing moments, as well as looking closer into players' statistics.

Jared is a die-hard Chicago White Sox fan, and one of his earliest memories is seeing his great-grandfather, a huge Sox fan, in his rocking chair watching a game. Jared started playing from the age of 5 with his grandfather coaching him early on.

Jared loved Tim Lincecum for his quirky delivery and looked up to him as a role model when playing. His current favorite is Phillies star Bryce Harper, an exciting player who doesn't let injuries hold him back. Jared's favorite sports moment is Mark Buehrle's opening day between-the-legs glove flip to first base in 2010.

When he is not watching or writing about baseball, Jared can be found racing BMX at his local Rockford BMX track or coaching his local youth travel baseball team.

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Edited by Gio Vergara