After Derek Jeter retired, rumors surfaced that Troy Tulowitzki could be a possible successor if the Yankees made a move for him. As it turns out, general manager Brian Cashman wanted the current Blue Jays shortstop more than New York's captain in 2010.
Coming off of a 2010 season where he hit a then career-worst .270 with 10 homers and 67 RBIs, Jeter and Cashman were in the midst of heated contract negotiations. During that time period, the Yankees' face of the franchise asked Cashman point-blank whether he preferred to have him or someone else play shortstop.
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The general manager wasn't shy about answering the question, dropping Tulowitzki's name among others.
"Do you really want me to answer that?" Cashman told Jeter, according to a report by Sports Illustrated. "We're not paying extra money for popularity. We're paying for performance."
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Jeter undoubtedly won the heart of New York City for his five World Series victories and for being the heart and soul of tremendous Yankees teams, but there is no question he was on the downswing of his career from 2010 on.
For his part, Cashman refused to confirm or deny the reports of his conversation with Jeter five years ago, according to the New York Daily News.
Cashman said that Sports Illustrated talked to him, but he also added that the publication spent time with multiple people and did their research for the piece. It's hard to argue with Cashman's train of thought from a business standpoint as Tulowitzki finished 2010 with a .315 batting average, 27 homers and 95 RBIs for Colorado.
Still, Jeter was a cornerstone player for the Yankees and Cashman himself told the Daily News that the captain is the "greatest player I will have ever had," but the GM also said he has no problem being honest with players no matter how big of a star they are.
"Sometimes honesty hurts. But if you're being paid to do a job, do the job," Cashman told Sports Illustrated.
Cashman is now all too familiar with Tulowitzki as the Rockies dealt him to the Blue Jays during the non-waiver trade deadline. The shortstop's infusion to Toronto's roster has given the Jays one of the most formidable and intimidating lineups in the game.
The Blue Jays trail the Yankees by two games in the AL East with seven head-to-head meetings left in the season.
Jeter and Cashman eventually worked out a deal and the shortstop retired following the 2014 season with Didi Gregorius becoming his successor, not Tulowitzki.
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