Rankings/List

Derek Jeter and the Yankees are still locked in one of the strangest contract negotiations in recent memory.

Given the decline that the Yankee shortstop experienced in 2010, the line drawn in the sand by the Yankees is pretty fair. Paying $15 million a year for a player who's going to hit .270 with limited range in the infield is pretty generous.

And right now, it's not very likely that Jeter is going to get a better offer from anybody else.

But what if the Yankees decide to just let him go? That would leave them with $15-20 million to spend.

Looking ahead to 2011, many teams will look to improve their roster via free agency or by making a major trade during the off-season.

Teams like the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox and the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are looking to sign a major free agent, and have their fan bases excited for this upcoming season.  However, the secret to a team's success isn't always found by signing the biggest free agent, or trading for a six-time all star.

Over the course of the 2010 MLB season, when the conversation turned to the upcoming free agent market, little attention was paid to Derek Jeter.

The fates of Carl Crawford and Cliff Lee have inspired countless articles and debates, but few writers spilled ink on his pending free agency because it seemed unfathomable that the Yankees captain would ever play anywhere but New York.

Let’s get one thing clear, the Red Sox cannot find replacements for Victor Martinez and Adrian Beltre, and improve offensively. Martinez batted .400 against lefties, Beltre was the best player on the team. Good luck finding that level of production on the trade market.

As far as replacing Victor Martinez, there is one thing everyone should remember: The Red Sox have Jarrod Saltalamacchia right now. It would not take much to be an improvement.

Though it was mostly Jason Heyward grabbing all the rookie headlines this season for Atlanta, Jonny Venters was the team's true freshmen MVP. Often times, the players that fly under the radar and have the least amount of pressure put on them become the major contributes to their team.

Let's get something clear right off the bat—I'm not advocating that the San Francisco Giants trade Matt Cain in the 2010-11 MLB offseason. I'm not even suggesting they should consider doing so.

The Kid has been the Giants' most consistent pitcher for years, and he's been one of the best starting pitchers in baseball for the same duration. Though Tim Lincecum is unquestionably the staff ace and justifiably dominates the limelight, his right-handed stablemate is only a nose behind him.

With rumors swirling around Cliff Lee (will he stay in Texas, will he go?), it's not all doom and gloom for the New York Yankees if they don't land him. Especially when you have millions and millions of dollars to shove in players' faces.

With that in mind, Here are the Top 10 players that the Yankees could potentially overpay to get what they want (in order of likelihood).

Who Are the Yankees Going to Overpay Next?

Begin Slideshow

There are prospects, and then there are mega-prospects.

When each new baseball season rolls around, teams and fans evaluate the talent that each organization holds. Each organization has its gems, some of whom get compliments as the next Alex Rodriguez or Roger Clemens. 

In recent years, players like Stephen Strasburg, Bryce Harper, the Upton brothers, and Jason Heyward have been the league's biggest attention-getters. Over the course of the last 30 or so years, there has been seemingly more and more attention given the apparent superstars of tomorrow.

For the first time in his career, Derek Jeter is a free agent.

Jeter's ten year 189 million dollar contract is up, and while just weeks ago it seemed impossible that Jeter would sign anywhere else, negotiations between Jeter and the Yankees have turned ugly.

Jeter wants five or six years, and 120+ million dollars. He wants to be paid like Alex Rodriguez, and a Yankees into his early 40s. The Yankees have offered him three years, 45 million dollars. An overpayment for a 36 year old declining shortstop, but not what the captain is looking for.

With the Major League Baseball Hot Stove season almost at its boiling point, many fans across Dodgertown can't help but recollect the most notable trades in the history of the Los Angeles Dodgers franchise.

Since officially moving to Los Angeles in 1958, many player trades occurred that were instrumental in winning nine National League pennants and five World Series championships. However, along with the deals that were beneficial came the deals that were dreadful, and people wonder what may have transpired if a number of these trades could have been undone.