Opinion

On December 29, 2009, the Mets and free agent outfielder Jason Bay agreed to a four-year, $66 million deal with a fifth year vesting option that could bring the deal over the $80 million plateau.

He was coming off an All-Star year in Boston, and even won a Silver Slugger award. He finally earned the contract he deserved after some great years being buried in Pittsburgh.

All the New York Yankees news the past week or so has been about Derek Jeter and his new deal. How much will Jeter "settle" for and will the Yankees come up from their three-year, $45 million deal. Also, some Mariano Rivera news has popped up. Will the Yankees give him a two-year deal?

Would Derek Jeter be underpaid at $10 million a year for the next three years? Could he be worth as much as $20 million a year over that time span. Does the Yankees' offer of $15 million per adequately cover both possible contingencies?

With each passing day, this seemingly solid and prosperous marriage between Derek Jeter and the New York Yankees seems to be on the verge of divorce.

No doubt the two are more perfect as a union, as I don’t know one baseball fan that can imagine either surviving without the other.

Captain Clutch is no more.

Derek Jeter entered this season an elite shortstop, but proved in the end why he is no longer worth the money. The former rookie of the year, two time Hank Aaron award recipient, four time Silver Slugger, six time Gold Glover, and once a World Series MVP had a dismal season. His batting average dropped to .270, and he hit just .231 in the ALCS.

Welcome to my annual Thanksgiving list!  As you are spending time with family and filling your bellies, take a few moments to think about all we can be thankful for.  I am very thankful for:

- Family, friends, food and fun!

- I am not a Washington Nationals fan

- A Phillies team that is filled not only with quality players, but quality people as well

- Four straight years of October baseball

One of my favorite pictures is of my brother, dad and I sitting together on the couch on Father's Day with our Yankee hats on and watching the game.

In the picture, my brother is about three, I'm five and my dad is absolutely beaming with joy.

My brother, who happens to be named after a former Yankee team captain, now has two kids of his own, and they have their own Yankee hats (they just happen to be pink).

John Lennon once sang, "New York City...back in New York City...New York City...Que pasa, New York?...Que pasa, New York?"

Lennon wrote that song in a tribute to his new hometown when he moved in September 1971 with Yoko Ono from Ole England.

It was in the same city that never sleeps where he was murdered on December 8, 1980, three weeks after releasing a comeback album, Double Fantasy.

Lennon, on his way to heaven, probably asked, "Que pasa, New York?"

Jayson Werth's free agency and impending contract is one of the hot topics in Philadelphia these days. Recently, Werth's agent Scott Boras (maybe you've heard of him) was on talk radio and had the following to say about his client and his time in Philadelphia:

       Will he’ll be the third best shortstop on the team in a couple years?  Sure.  Don’t his career numbers make him a rich man’s Craig Biggio?  Of course.  But the Yankees need Derek Jeter as much as the Yankee captain needs the pinstripes.  The Yankees are built on quiet professionalism and championship legacy, and no player, now or on the horizon (sorry, Robinson Cano), represents the Yankee brand like Derek Jeter.