Zell's Pinstripe Blog

From GEORGE A. KING III of the NY Post:

When Brian Cashman looks at Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera and Joe Girardi, the Yankees’ GM paints his shortstop, closer and manager with the same brush.

And with spring training opening next week in Tampa, Cashman has no plans to stray from his plan of not negotiating with them. All three contracts are in the final year.

“I don’t think you can separate one from the other,” Cashman explained. “I am not saying they are the same, but the questions will come, ‘If you did one, why didn’t you do the other?’ If this was Kansas City, it would be different — but it’s not.”

Cashman doesn’t fear Girardi’s lame-duck status will become a distraction for the players when the annual slide surfaces and voices call for Girardi’s head even though he led the Yankees to a major-league best 103 wins and a World Series title last season.

I never really expected Cashman to get involved in negotiations this early, so it doesn’t matter to me. Plenty of money is going to be sent out, and we all know it. Not that Jeter or Rivera need anymore incentive to play well this season, a spectacular 2010 baseball season could definitely allow them to get whatever they want. This is the way to do it. There’s no need to make this a distraction during Spring Training or the regular season.