Yankees re-sign shortstop Derek Jeter to one-year contract
The New York Yankees today announced they have re-signed shortstop Derek Jeter to a one-year, $12 million contract for the 2014 season.
Jeter, 39, owns a .312 (3,316-for-10,614) career batting average with 1,876 runs, 525 doubles, 65 triples, 256 home runs, 1,261 RBI and 348 stolen bases in 2,602 games over 19 Major League seasons with the Yankees (1995-2013). He is ninth on Baseball's all-time hits list and the leader among active players. A five-time World Series champion (1996, 1998-2000, '09), 13-time All-Star (1998-2002, '04, '06-12) and a five-time Gold Glove Award winner (2004-06, '09-10), Jeter will become the longest-tenured player in franchise history with his first game played in 2014, breaking the record he currently shares with Mariano Rivera.
In 2013, Jeter batted .190 (12-for-63) with eight runs, one double, one home run and seven RBI in 17 games (13 starts at SS, four at DH), missing 145 team games over four disabled list stints. Prior to last season, he had been on the disabled list only five times, missing just 82 combined team games while on the D.L. in his first 18 Major League seasons.
Jeter is a five-time Silver Slugger Award recipient (2006-09, '12), having tallied eight career 200-hit seasons, including a Major League-leading 216 hits in 2012. Prior to last season, Jeter had a 17-season streak (1996-2012) of recording at least 150 hits per season, matching Hank Aaron (1955-71) for the longest such stretch in Major League history according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
Named the 11th captain in team history on June 3, 2003, Jeter is the Yankees' all-time leader in hits, games, stolen bases, at-bats, singles (2,470) and hit by pitches (164). He also ranks second in doubles (Lou Gehrig-534), third in runs (Babe Ruth -1,959, Gehrig-1,888) and ninth in homers. No active player has appeared in more games for his current team than Derek Jeter, and he is 10th all-time in games played among Major Leaguers who have spent their entire careers with one team.
Additionally, Jeter is one of just two players in Major League history, along with Willie Mays, to record at least 3,000 hits, 250 home runs, 300 stolen bases and 1,200 RBI in their careers.
Born in Pequannock, N.J., and raised in Kalamazoo, Mich., Jeter was selected by the Yankees in the first round of the 1992 First-Year Player Draft (sixth pick overall). In 1996, he established the "Turn 2" Foundation, whose mission is to create and support signature programs and activities that motivate young people to turn away from drugs and alcohol and "Turn 2" healthy lifestyles. As a result of Turn 2's programs and his other good works off the field, Jeter was honored by Major League Baseball with the 2009 Roberto Clemente Award, given annually to the player who combines a dedication to giving back to the community with outstanding skills on the baseball field.