Steroids case won't distract us, Jeter says
Pettitte situation 'will probably die down after the first couple days'
 Christian Petersen / Getty Images Derek Jeter settled his case with tax officials, who had said the New York Yankees captain should have paid three years of taxes as a New York state resident. |
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ALBANY, N.Y. - Yankees captain Derek Jeter doesn’t think baseball’s steroids controversy will be a major distraction when the team begins spring training next week.
New York pitcher Andy Pettitte, and former Yankees’ Roger Clemens and Chuck Knoblauch are scheduled to testify at a congressional hearing on the issue Feb. 13, one day before pitchers and catchers are scheduled to report.
“I think Andy is probably going to be facing a lot of questions,” Jeter said Tuesday. “You know how it is in New York, there’s always questions. It will probably die down after the first couple days when he talks to the media, addresses them and answers those questions. But in New York, there’s always something every year. ... It might be a little different for Andy. Other than that, I don’t think so.”
Jeter, the Yankees’ captain since June 2003, worked out at the Yankees’ minor league complex Tuesday along with catcher Jorge Posada and first baseman-outfielder Shelley Duncan. Jeter doesn’t see his role evolving despite the increasing number of younger players on the team.
“I don’t think it will be anything different,” Jeter said. “People tend to ask a lot of questions. You can relate to what those guys are going through. Coming through the organization, the expectations, you’re supposed to come in and help out right away. So in that sense I can relate to them. But I’ll just continue to do the things that I’ve always done — probably answer a lot more questions than the last few years.”
Now 33, Jeter has three seasons remaining on his $189 million, 10-year contract. He doesn’t think about how long he’ll play.
“I’ve never been one to sit around and say ’focus on three, four, five, six years from now.’ I think when you do that, that’s when you get in trouble,” he said. “You’ve got to focus on the season at hand. It’s also kind of selfish, sitting around worrying about how long you’re going to play. The task at hand is to try and win this season.”
Star settles tax case with state
Meanwhile, Jeter settled his case with tax officials, who had said the New York Yankees captain should have paid three years of taxes as a New York state resident.
A state official confirmed the settlement, which was first reported in Tuesday’s New York Daily News. The official was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity. Terms were not disclosed.
Jeter’s representatives declined to comment. Tom Bergin, spokesman for the state Department of Taxation and Finance, also declined comment, saying it was a privacy issue.
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Jeter’s contract with the Yankees called for him to receive $11 million in 2001, $13 million in 2002 and $14 million in 2003. In addition, he has a $16 million signing bonus payable between February 2001 and June 2008.
Jeter bought an apartment at Trump World Tower in October 2001, according to New York City real estate records.
Jeter was given notice a year ago. The case became public after Administrative Law Judge Timothy Alston issued an order in November telling tax officials to furnish Jeter with more detail about their claims that Tampa, Fla., was no longer his home. Alston also said the burden of proof was on the state.
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