Derek Jeter Season Has Come To An End

It really has been a rough year for Yankees Captain Derek Jeter. After breaking his ankle in the playoffs last year, Jeter tried to come back. He did, on July 12th. Then got hurt again, then came back again. This went on a few times this year, before Yankees GM Brian Cashman announced on Wednesday afternoon that Jeter has been placed on the disabled list, and will miss the rest of the 2013 season. Jeter had been out of the lineup due to ankle soreness. Through 17 games in 2013, Jeter was batting .190 with 1 home run and 7 RBIs. He is a career .312 batter and has played in 2,602 career games for the Yankees.

This comes as a bit of a blow to the Yankees, who at the moment, are fighting for the last wild card spot in the American League. I'm not saying that Jeter was powering the Yankees offense this year, but he wanted so badly to play this year and help his team out, but his body just wouldn't let him. With all the stuff that has gone on around the Yankees this season, it really would have been a great story to have Jeter come back healthy, and help get them into the playoffs. But it just wasn't in the cards.

Now the big question is, with Jeter done for this year, what do you do with him next year? He holds a $8 million player option for the 2014 season with a $3 million buyout. The Yankees still have that option on the table, but it doesn't look like ti will happen. Jeter wants to come back, so does everybody else in the organization. I know his production has dipped over the last few years, but that is expected for a guy who's 38 years old. Jeter is still a good ball player, there is no denying that. However he just isn't at the same talent level he was ten years ago.

Jeter in all likelyhood, will be playing again next year, if his body lets him. He should come back healthy and fully rested by the time training camp opens next March. If he does come back, what the Yankees should consider doing is getting a solid backup for Jeter at shortstop if possible. It would make all the sense in the world.

Yes it does stink that Jeter is done for the year. Right now though, before the Yanks start to worry about what to do with shortstop for next year, they need to finish the job this year of trying to make the playoffs.