In the tail-end of Derek Jeter’s storied career, general manager Brian Cashman told the Yankees shortstop he would prefer Troy Tulowitzki.
In a Sports Illustrated profile of Cashman, the Yankees general manager revisits the testy contract negotiations with Jeter in 2010. Jeter asks Cashman who would he rather have at shortstop, and he responded by telling him Tulowitzki, the former Rockies shortstop who was recently dealt to the Blue Jays.
Cashman was ready to name other shortstops he would prefer, but “wiser heads stepped in.” However, Cashman did say: “we’re not paying extra money for popularity. We’re paying for performance.