Derek Jeter: Tampa Bay Rays Are Best Option If Yankees Don't Agree To a New Deal

Derek Jeter and the New York Yankees have been going back and forth in negotiations that don't look like they are going to end anytime soon.

There doesn't appear to be a large market for a shortstop that will turn 37 years old next season. The Yankees are still by far the most probable team that Derek will play for next season.

However, since he is a free agent, anything is possible. If Derek Jeter is not in Yankee pinstripes next season, what uniform could he be wearing?

Maybe that of the Tampa Bay Rays.

The Tampa Bay Rays need to seriously consider attempting to sign Derek Jeter. For the Tampa Bay Rays, Derek brings a lot more to the table than he does for the New York Yankees.

Here are 10 reasons Derek is a great fit for the Rays.

10. Derek Is an East Coast Guy

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ARLINGTON, TX - OCTOBER 22: Derek Jeter #2 of the New York Yankees looks on during batting practice against the Texas Rangers in Game Six of the ALCS during the 2010 MLB Playoffs at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington on October 22, 2010 in Arlington, Texas.

There has been rumors of teams including the Giants, Angels, Astros, Cardinals, Cubs and Twins being interested in Derek Jeter's talents.

It is hard to believe that these teams will be able to land Jeter due to his personality and the cities that those teams play in conflicting.

Jeter is very much a New York and East Coast kind of guy. Although the other cities may have the financial resources to be among the upper echelon of offers Derek receives, it would be hard imagining him living in those cities. 

The Angels are the only team of this group that can probably make enough of a splash to land Jeter. It would be interesting to see if they can pull off signing Derek Jeter and maybe even Carl Crawford.

9. Boston Red Sox Are Not an Option

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BOSTON - OCTOBER 3: Derek Jeter #2 of the New York Yankees moves the the right side of the infield in preparation for batter David Ortiz #34 of the Boston Red Sox during a game at Fenway Park, October 3, 2010, in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim Rog

Although Boston fits the geographical criteria and would be the biggest slap to the Steinbrenners' face, the Red Sox probably will not be a player in the Derek Jeter sweepstakes.

Although there are rumors that the team is entertaining offers for Marco Scutaro, I find it hard to imagine 36-year-old Jeter as his replacement.

Not to mention, how would Red Sox fans feel about Jeter playing in front of the Green Monster for the remainder of his career?

8. New York Mets Are Not Parting Ways with Jose Reyes

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NEW YORK - MAY 22: Derek Jeter #2 of the New York Yankees tags out Jose Reyes #7 of the New York Mets at second base on May 22, 2010 at Citi Field in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images)

As far as playing for the other New York team, that isn't a possibility for Derek either. Even as rumors circulate that the Mets are internally discussing options that include trading Jose Reyes, don't expect those rumors to materialize.

Also, don't expect to see Jeter move from the Bronx to Queens.

7. Tampa Is His Offseason Home

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ST. PETERSBURG - APRIL 09: Outfielder B.J. Upton #2 of the Tampa Bay Rays steals second as shortstop Derek Jeter #2 of the New York Yankees takes the throw during the game at Tropicana Field on April 9, 2010 in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by J. Meri

There is no place like home.

For Derek Jeter, home these days means this 30,875 square foot mansion that is twice the size of any other home in Tampa. His new palace is roughly the size of a Best Buy store.

If you are building a palace of that size for yourself, wouldn't you want to lay your head there more often than the offseason? If the big dollar offers don't present themselves, the notion of playing and living in Tampa with his huge mansion is a proposition that only Tampa can offer.

6. Jeter Brings Veteran and Championship-Experienced Leadership

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NEW YORK - OCTOBER 20: Derek Jeter #2 of the New York Yankees celebrates with his teammates after the Yankees won 7-2 against the Texas Rangers in Game Five of the ALCS during the 2010 MLB Playoffs at Yankee Stadium on October 20, 2010 in the Bronx borou

The Tampa Bay Rays are still a very young and talented team. With the loss of Carl Crawford from the lineup, the clubhouse leaders are Evan Longoria and David Price. Although they are both very talented players, they don't have the veteran leadership a guy like Jeter can bring to the team.

You cannot measure the impact of bringing in a five-time World Series champion captain to a team. He could assist with Longoria's development. He would also be an additional leader in the locker room besides Joe Maddon and the young stars.

5. Derek Is Good for Attendance

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NEW YORK - JULY 18: A fan of Derek Jeter of the New York Yankees holds up a jersey during the game against the Tampa Bay Rays on July 18, 2010 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City. The Yankees defeated the Rays 9-5. (Photo by Jim McIs

The Yankees, Red Sox and Cubs don't need help selling tickets. The Tampa Bay Rays do.

There are two types of baseball fans in the Tampa Bay area: Rays fans and Yankees fans. Both would benefit from a Jeter to Tampa deal.

Derek Jeter would positively impact Rays ticket sales throughout the season. He has a large following of traditional sports fans as well as female fans that are attracted to him. Either way, people want to see him play.

The costs of signing Jeter could be recouped with the increased revenue having him on the team could produce. Not to mention, with a name like Jeter on the team it could also help with negotiations to move out of the horrible ballpark they currently play in.

4. Jeter Would Be a Legend in Both Cities

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ST. PETERSBURG, FL - SEPTEMBER 14: Infielder Derek Jeter #2 of the New York Yankees warms up just prior to the start of the game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field on September 14, 2010 in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by J. Meric/Getty Ima

Derek Jeter has already built a Hall of Fame career and legacy with the New York Yankees. He also will more than likely have his jersey number retired when his playing career is over.

Now he can build a second legacy with Tampa.

Derek Jeter is only 74 hits shy of 3,000. He could be the second player to hit his 3,000th hit in a Tampa Bay uniform. Ironically, the other player was Wade Boggs, who finished the last seasons of his career in Tampa Bay after playing for the Yankees.

Boggs' jersey No. 12 is the only Rays jersey number retired (Jackie Robinson's No. 42 is retired across MLB).

3. Rays Will Still Be Competitive in 2011

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ST. PETERSBURG, FL - APRIL 13: The Tampa Bay Rays hang an AL 2008 championship banner before play against the New York Yankees on April 13, 2009 at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)

The Rays will still field a team that could be competitive in 2011. They have a good stable of starting pitching and a bullpen that will keep the team in the running for the American League East.

At least Jeter wouldn't be leaving the Yankees to play for a team that is out of playoff contention before the season even starts. With the addition of Jeter the Rays would have trade flexibility with Jason Bartlett and Sean Rodriguez to add more talent.

2. Jeter Plays the Rays' Style of Baseball

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ST. LOUIS, MO - JULY 14: American League All-Star Derek Jeter of the New York Yankees shakes hands with Manager Joe Maddon of the Tampa Bay Rays following the 2009 MLB All-Star Game at Busch Stadium on July 14, 2009 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip

The Tampa Bay Rays won their second American League East pennant even though they had the 26th-ranked batting average in the majors. However, they also ranked third in runs scored. The Rays make the most of their opportunities on base.

Jeter would fit well in that system. In 2010, Jeter had 111 runs on 179 hits. Although some of those runs are without question related to the number of superstar bats in the Yankees lineup, it is still a significant figure.

Jeter could provide the Rays with the consistent bat in the lineup that they were missing in 2010.

1. Derek Jeter Is Still a Great Player

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NEW YORK - OCTOBER 20: Derek Jeter #2 of the New York Yankees reacts after he tagged out Elvis Andrus #1 of the Texas Rangers on a pickoff play at second base in the top of the seventh inninng of Game Five of the ALCS during the 2010 MLB Playoffs at Yank

Like him or not, Derek Jeter is still one of the best shortstops in baseball.

Among all shortstops with a minimum of 3.1 plate appearances per team game in 2010, Jeter ranked first in runs and hits. He also ranked fifth in doubles, sixth in on-base percentage and eighth in batting average.

He also has the highest fielding percentage and fewest errors of any shortstop that started more than 65 games in 2010. Winning his fifth Gold Glove in 2010 was neither fluke nor fraud.

If the Rays could have an infield that consists of John Jaso, Carlos Pena, Rodriguez, Jeter and Longoria, they would once again be competitive for the AL East crown.