Derek Jeter is Very Good..... But not the All-Time Great he's made out to be

There has certainly been lots of focus on Derek Jeter and his status in the game these days.

The latest Forbes article naming him as the most overpaid player in baseball is a case in point. No one questions that he is an All-Star, a great player or a winning player in any way shape or form. But when it’s pointed out that the he makes 8-Times the Average Salary for an American League Short Stop, it does seem a little silly.

Sure, he puts up slightly better numbers than the other guys American League guys, but not 8-Times better?!

As a point of reference, Jeter makes $21.6 million, (American League SS average is $2.7 million) the next highest American League player at his position Oakland’s Orlando Cabrera makes only $4 million!

Jeter certainly doesn’t get paid for his defense as he is one of the poorer defensive shortstops in the league. They are constantly talking about moving now that it is later in his career because he is somewhat of a liability at the position.

But what about the intangibles you say?

Look – the guy hit’s in the clutch, no doubt. He dives into the stands to catch balls like he's superman. He has the wherewithal to stand places in the field at crucial moments where other players would get blasted for being out of position....... and makes great plays when he does so (flipping the ball to Posada to get Jeremy Giambi.)

He is a great player and in his prime I would have taken him in a second as my short stop. In fact I still might, that's not the point. But this worshiping of “The Capitan” has to stop.

This is what I say when people tell me that Derek Jeter is one of the greatest players in the history of baseball.

“If Derek Jeter was drafted by the K.C. Royals, and had played there since the end of 1995 and didn’t get a chance to play with the other Yankee players on those teams managed by Joe Torre – what would you be saying about him? Would he still be one of the all-time greats?”

Think about it………me thinks not. – Keith A. Baker

Keith A. Baker is a sports agent in Stamford, Connecticut. His goal is to offer a unique insight to the world of sports and Major League Baseball in particular. Comments in his columns are for entertainment purposes only and do not reflect the views and opinions of his firm or his clients.