Sweating the Relatively Small Stuff In Derek Jeter's Contract

If you're still not convinced the New York Yankees are hell bent on getting on a budget, perhaps doing a Dave Ramsey-style total money makeover, then take into consideration the Yanks reportedly are relieved by the fact Derek Jeter did not finish in the top 6 of the American League MVP voting.

Had Jeter been voted as high as sixth, the short stop's contract would ignite incentives that would have paid him an extra $2 million on his 2014 player option year.

2014?

Yep, that's the year the Yankees have targeted for getting their payroll down to at least $189 million ($170 million?) to avoid those expensive-as-hell luxury taxes.

That's right, the Yankees brass, which in the past were willing to spend whatever it took to get a top free agent ballplayer, reportedly were sweating having to pay Jeter an extra 2 million bucks in 2014. That's a bunch of No. 2, right?

Hey, every million counts.

So how close did Jeter get toward collecting that 2 mill in 2014?

One place spot.

He finished seventh behind the Orioles' Adam Jones. But in reality, the voting wasn’t close. Jones secured 120 votes to Jeter's 77.

For those of you who tend to overvalue Triple Crown category numbers – was that a bit snarky? – Jeter hit .316 with 15 home runs and had 59 RBIs. He had .362 on base percentage and a .429 slugging percentage for a .791 OPS.