Could Jeter End Up in Boston?

The New York Yankees have declined to offer future Hall of Famer Derek Jeter arbitration. In fact, Yankees GM Brian Cashman has said he told Jeter to "test the market and see if there’s something he would prefer other than this. If he can, fine."

The Yankees have offered Jeter a three-year contract worth $45 million. I am sure that Cashman would not have uttered such a statement if he thought any other club was prepared to pony up more money than that. After all, Jeter's batting average and on base percentage fell by more than sixty points during the 2010 season. He's also 36 and has lost a step at short.

On the other hand, Jeter could take Cashman's comments as an affront and sign elsewhere out of pride. There are also clubs that would love to one up the Yankees. I'm sure Boston Red Sox President Larry Lucchino stills consider the Yankees "the evil empire." Jeter needs only 74 hits to reach the coveted 3,000 mark. Could you imagine if he reached that milestone in a Red Sox uniform instead of wearing pinstripes?