Brian Cashman doesn’t expect Derek Jeter to play the next four years at shortstop

Brian Cashman had a lot to say at WFAN’s annual “Breakfast with a Champion” this morning, most notably he said he didn’t expect Derek Jeter to last as a shortstop for all four years of his new contract. He’d be a center fielder, he said.

Jeter is 36 years old and coming off the worst season of his career. At this point, it’s hard to disagree with Cashman’s expectations for Jeter.

However, many expect Jeter to have another comeback season, like he pulled off in 2009 after a subpar (for Jeter) 2008.

As for my prediction, I doubt we’ll ever see Jeter playing in the outfield, and especially not center. I’ve always thought he would retire if he felt he’d be hurting the team. Obviously, he’d be playing a corner outfield spot if did ever move to the outfield, but I think it’d be more likely to see him finish his career as a DH.

As Craig Calcaterra wrote, there’s just no precedent for a switch from shortstop to outfield this late in a career.

Cashman also had a few other notable statements:

• He said the Red Sox have a better team than the Yankees, but the Yankees have the better bullpen. I agree with both points, especially about the bullpen.
• He said the Yankees are one starter away from being a World Series contender. I don’t completely agree with that. The Yankees could get away with three starters in the postseason, especially with a horse like CC Sabathia.
  
  However, the statement also makes me confident that if Andy Pettitte decides to retire, he definitely will pursue a starter at the trade deadline.

ESPN W’s Amanda Rykoff was the first to break all this. Nice work.