Jeter and Yankees Table Negotiations

N E W   Y O R K, Feb. 5, 2001 -- Derek Jeter's agent and the Yankees made moreprogress Saturday on what will likely be a $189 million, 10-yearcontract, then recessed talks until later this week.

Casey Close, the agent for the All-Star shortstop, was inPhoenix and spoke by telephone with Yankees president Randy Levine,according to a baseball official familiar with the talks who spokeon the condition he not be identified.

The sides had agreed to salaries in the early years of thecontract and were working on the breakdown for the latter seasons,the official said.

Deal Would Be Second-Largest

In addition, the sides agreed the deal will include a no-tradeclause, and there will not be any award of performance bonuses. Thecontract also will not contain any deferred salaries.

Still, contract language remained to be finalized.

Jeter's deal contract would become the second-largest in sportshistory, behind only the $252 million, 10-year agreement reached inDecember between Texas and free agent shortstop Alex Rodriguez,Jeter's good friend.

Jeter and the Yankees had a tentative agreement last winter on a$118.5 million, seven-year contract, but Yankees owner GeorgeSteinbrenner wouldn't finalize it because its average salary,$16,928,571, would have been the highest in baseball at the time.

New York avoided arbitration with Jeter by agreeingto a $10 million, one-year contract and went on to win its thirdconsecutive World Series.

Jeter, 26, has helped the Yankees win four World Series in fiveseasons since he joined the team, including the last three. He iseligible for free agency after next season.