We’re still waiting to see the puffs of white smoke eminating from Yankee Stadium, but at least Jeter and his agent Casey Close are sitting down and chatting:

The two sides had not spoken in several days. The Yankees have made Jeter a three-year, $45 million offer. Jeter, according to the New York Times, wants a four- or five-year deal worth $23 million to $24 million per season.

The extent that each side is willing to compromise is not known, but the expectation throughout the industry is that Jeter will remain with the Yankees.

No word if the “reality juice” was served but “sources close to the negotiations” indicate graham crackers and Hi-C were offered.

/cue the Gregorian chanting

From all-around good guy and fellow ‘Cuse grad Jeff Passan, some interesting stuff out of the Greinke-land:

Though Kansas City starter Zack Greinke has a no-trade clause in his contract that includes the Yankees and other big-market teams, a source close to the right-hander suggested he would happily pitch anywhere that would provide a winning team.

“I wouldn’t put it past him to go to New York,” the source said. “I don’t think he’d rule out anybody. He says he likes New York. Especially because they’re winners. He wants to go to a team that wins.

“He’s got a list, but in the process, a lot of people have lists.”

It’ll be tough now that the team has effectively decided that the starting catcher’s gig will be Jesus Montero’s to lose, but if the team loses out on the Cliff Lee money dump, there’s a Plan B out there. What, you were thinking Pavano, Part Duh?

Me, I’d rather just see the Brinks truck arrive in Arkansas, dump a pile on Lee’s front lawn and say: “Does this do it for you?” and have Cashman in the passenger seat, contract in hand. Better than trading the farm. It’s just money, afterall.

I just might have to attend this personally*:

Cashman is scheduled to rappel from the 350-foot Landmark Building in Stamford, Conn., Friday and Sunday as part of the Stamford’s Heights and Lights event as a celebrity guest elf.

Wearing a full harness and dressed in an elf costume, according to Stamford Downtown president Sandy Goldstein, Cashman will jump off the 22-floor building. There is no protective netting, a spokesperson for the event said.

Can I give a pre-emptive complaint from Yankeeville: “What, Cash? You’ve got extra time on your hands? Get Lee, Mo, Pettitte and Jeter signed already!”

*who’s with me?

[picture courtesy of NYMag]

Elf yourself here

I included a photoshopped Jeter in a RedSox jersey earlier today here.

If you want to see the rest of the brilliance featuring Jeter in every other uniform, have a look here. Worth a chuckle as you end your miserable work day and get started on your equally miserable commute.

This has absolutely nothing to do with any of the contract machinations going on or, quite frankly, anything whatsoever related to the news of the moment. It is simply a note my dad received from the late Hank Bauer back in 1985 after attending the Mantle/Ford fantasy camp. Maybe there’s something to the “good old days” after all, besides grainy black and white footage and Mel Allen.