Credit to Howardkellman.com
An iconic figure of baseball, Derek Jeter, announced he will retire after the 2014 season. He has spent all 19 of his seasons in the Bronx with the New York Yankees. He retires with 13 All-Star appearances, five Gold Gloves, five Silver Sluggers, five World Series rings, is a member of the 3,000 hit club, and will retire as one of the best shortstops ever.
Earlier today, he released a statement online, announcing his inevitable retirement following the 2014 season, and thanking everyone who has ever helped him during his amazing career. After a disappointing, injury plagued year in 2013, he will hope to rebound in 2014, and lead his beloved New York Yankees to his sixth World Series ring.
As we all get set to wish The Captain farewell, the Yankees will have to prepare to lose their everyday shortstop. With Stephen Drew available on the free agent market, he could be a perfect fit in the Bronx, he could play third or second this year, and next year, upon Jeter’s retirement, would shift to shortstop. With Robinson Cano now playing in Seattle and Alex Rodriguez banned all year, their infield is very thin, and with Jeter now calling it quits and Mark Teixeira very liable to injury, it could get much thinner.
With Brendan Ryan, Kelly Johnson, Eduardo Nunez among others ready to fill in, in the infield, they do have depth, but the Yankees are striving to win the World Series, and will need some star players in their dwindling infield.
Although the world of baseball is enthralled in the news of his retirement, we can’t forget he is still ready to lead the New York Yankees to the World Series, and give himself the good-bye present he deserves, his sixth World Series ring. The 2014 Yankees should be a very exciting team to watch, we shall see a baseball icon in Jeter retire, Japanese phenomenon Masahiro Tanaka take to the mound, and free agent signings Jacoby Ellsbury, Carlos Beltran and Brian McCann wearing the pinstripes in the quest of winning a precious ring.
Not only do the Yankees lose their All-Star shortstop, they lose their captain, the role model to any young baseball player, with Mariano Rivera and Andy Pettitte retired, the Yankees clubhouse will need a new leader. The 2014 season will be a massive send off for Derek Jeter, and we should expect to see many tears and smiles as we look back on the nostalgia that is Jeter’s simply astonishing career. His number will surely be retired, and he is set to enter the Hall of Fame. The news we all expected, has finally come, and we can all look forward to sending off a true legend of baseball in 2014, Derek Jeter.