Corey Seager vs. Derek Jeter Contract Comparison: A Tale of Two Clutch Postseason Superstars Separated by $136 Million

Postseason is when legends are born, clutch moments are seized, and the competition becomes stronger. And who’s a better clutch player than “Captain Clutch” himself? Well! there might be someone who is nearing his ultimate record. Texas Rangers shortstop Corey Seager is a one-man army this season and a boon to have in October. The two players aren’t similar only with huge contract numbers but also in their postseason records.

After Corey Seager hit another World Series home run in game 4, a stat was released. It gave people an immediate reason to compare Seager with Jeter and wonder how different or similar they are.

Corey Seager and Derek Jeter’s – Following in the legend’s footsteps

While the Texas Rangers are going up against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Corey Seager is drawing comparisons with the Yankees icon. Seager just hit a homer in Game 4, marking his 19th postseason home run. The most any shortstop has ever hit in the postseason is 20 and that was Yankees legend Derek Jeter. While Captain Clutch was known for his clutch qualities, Seager, too, is beginning to show how much of a postseason player he is.

Both sluggers are marquee players on their teams. While Jeter was the captain and the centerpiece of the Yankees puzzle, Seager is the testament to everything the Rangers stand for. Both players signed equally huge contracts. While Jeter signed a 10-year contract of $189 million in 2001, Seager signed an almost double, $325 million contract for 10 years as well. Both of them are among the highest-paid shortstops of their time.

The similarities also run in their impact on the team. Seager and Jeter are counted as two of the most reliable players in their respective clubs. One difference, though, is that Jeter remained with the Yankees for his entire career while Seager was once with the LA Dodgers. Nevertheless, the current star is catching up to the veteran.

Corey Seager confidently sidling up to ‘The Captain’

Somewhere in Seager’s house is a World Series trophy from 2020. With the Rangers, he might be on pace to win another soon. Though Jeter’s 5 seems untouchable right now, it’s also because the sport has changed considerably since the days of the Yankees dynasty. Still, both Mr. November and Seager’s impact on their respective teams is undeniable. They were the center cogs that kept the machine running. Jeter was a World Series MVP in 2000 while Seager was one in 2020 when he won it with LA Dodgers.

Their defensive skills at shortstop though are quite different. Although Jeter has won 5 Gold Gloves in his career, fans regularly say that his defensive performance was never as good as his offense. The stats do tell an unsavory tale – Jeter finished his career with a DRS (Defensive Runs Saved) of minus 165.  Seager’s number, on the other hand, is -4 as a shortstop. 

But offensively Jeter’s numbers outmatch nearly every batter. While his batting average is .310,  Seager’s happens to be .292. Still, the Rangers’ Shortstop has time on his side, so his catching up to Jeter might not be far-fetched. This can especially be possible as Seager is already close to breaking Jeter’s home run record. Not to mention, the former Bronx star also inspired the Texas slugger.

Seager is Jeter’s favorite player, and vice versa

It’s a widely known fact that Corey Seager was a huge Derek Jeter fan when growing up. Since both his parents were from New York, Seager was passed down the Yankees fandom by his family. His love for the ex-captain was strong enough that he emulated Jeter’s on-field professionalism. So it’s no surprise that when he’s so near to breaking his hero’s record, it might be a surreal moment for him.

But even that might not equal to what Jeter said about Seager after game 4. When talking about his favorite players, “Captain Clutch” revealed that currently, his favorite player is none other than Corey Seager. Jeter said the following –

“This guy is my favorite player man. He is fun to watch, I mean he is locked in as anyone else at the plate. He doesn’t just get hits he does damage….” 

“Why do you continue to pitch to him? You cannot get him out on strikes because he is aggressive, he is attacking first pitchers and he is one of the reasons why they are here.” Jeter continued his praises for the Rangers Star.

Read more – Which MLB Player Has Hit the Most Home Runs in World Series History?

A few days ago, the Hall of Famer also said that the athleticism of Seager is something that he can only dream of. Now that Seager’s childhood idol has also become his fan, he might have even more reason to win the World Series. The similarities between the two ballplayers will only increase with time as Seager gets near more records. He already became only the second person after Jeter to score consecutive home runs in a Fall Classic. Many more such records exist, waiting for Seager to break them.

So now as the World Series goes, maybe Corey Seager can match Derek Jeter by winning one for the Rangers, but can he do it 5 times like Jeter? That’s a big question, though he might start the journey by taking his number to 2 this year.

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