The New York Mets, on the other hand, are one of only three MLB teams that did not see a rise in value from last year.

In terms of jersey sales, Derek Jeter has the best selling MLB jersey.

Darren Rovell of CNBC Sports Business writes:

As the most marketable player on the most marketable team, it comes as no surprise that No. 2 is No. 1. At 15 full seasons, he has been on the same team longer than anyone in the top 10 and has five World Series rings.

Alex Rodriguez is 9th on the list.

Here’s one great excerpt from the article:

He’s Tiger without the car crash, Kobe without the rape trial, Brady without the jilted pregnant girlfriend, A-Rod without the…well, everything.

Jeter also donned the cover of an issue of GQ in 1998.

From ESPN.com:

“I like corner outfielders and corner infielders who have power, so for me, if he’s ever gonna move, it’s probably gonna be a Robin Yount situation. But we don’t have to deal with it at this point,” Cashman said Tuesday. “We’ll deal with it when we have to.”

This offseason, almost immediately after Jeter signed a three-year, $51 million deal with an option for a fourth year, speculation centered on whether the longtime Yankee could play shortstop for the life of the contract. Cashman said that he would “be surprised” if Jeter stays there for the duration, “but that doesn’t mean it’s not possible.”

If I were Cashman I wouldn’t have even opened my mouth regarding this subject. This isn’t something that needs to be addressed now. Jeter was already humiliated just a couple of months ago because of how contract talks went and now something like this comes about during a time when it doesn’t matter. Jeter will be the Yankees’ shortstop in 2011. As for what 2012 or 2013 holds, who knows. Talk about moving him to a different position when the time comes.

Derek Jeter will agree to a 3-year contract for roughly $50 million with the Yankees in the next 24 to 48 hours, according to a person who has been briefed on the negotiations. The deal will include a creative fourth-year option, which was the final element that was being discussed on Saturday.

Jeter will make between $15 and $17 million a year for the first three years, which is a modest raise over the 3-year, $45 million offer the Yankees had initially proposed.

It was inevitable that the two sides would agree. I’m glad the contract talks didn’t get too, too harsh. Jeter is coming back to where he is supposed to be.

via NY Post

COMPROMISE…

“We understand his contributions to the franchise and our offer has taken them into account,” Cashman told ESPNNewYork.com. “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.”

Jeter is not going to get more money or more years on the open market than the Yankees are offering. Take Derek Jeter’s name off the back of his baseball card and the combination of his 2010 stats, age and position isn’t deserving of $15+ million a year for 4+ years. But this is Derek Jeter and the New York Yankees and the Yankees are going to give Jeter the best deal he can get because of the history between the two parties.

The three-year, $45 million deal that has reportedly been offered to Jeter may not be the deal he eventually signs with the Yankees, but it will be close to it. I can see the Yankees giving him a four-year deal worth $72 million at best.