Nice to see Derek Jeter and the New York Yankees got together and reached a three-year deal over the weekend.

Jeter, a Yankees legend who played a key role in the team’s four World Series titles about a decade ago, signed for about $51 million over three years.

That’s a pretty good deal, especially for a player who statistically had the worst year of his career at the age of 36.

In his career, Jeter has averaged 119 runs, 17 home runs, 80 RBI, 23 stolen bases, a .314 batting average and a .385 on-base percentage.

Last season, in the final year of a 10-year contact that paid him 22.6 million, Jeter recorded 10 home runs, 67 RBI and 18 steals, but he had a .270 average and .340 on-base percentage.

While these are not sizable drops — other than the batting average — should Jeter be paid similar money to his previous deal?

Absolutely not.

The Yankees were put in a tough situation. They have an aging superstar whose skills may be starting to fade. They must weigh the numbers and decide if it last season was a fluke, that he can bounce back and hit .315 and lead the Yankees to the World Series, or if 2010 was the beginning of the end?

Jeter’s camp was seeking a four-year deal worth somewhere around $22 million, similar to what he was receiving.

The Yankees countered with a three-year deal — unlike in the NFL, major league baseball contracts are guaranteed. If Jeter struggles next year, the Yankees are committed to paying him, whether they keep him or not.

It looked as if the whole negotiation process was going to get ugly, until there was a face-to-face meeting with Jeter and Yankees brass — namely owner Hal Steinbrenner.

Apparently, things got a little more realistic. Jeter “settled” for $17 million over three years with a fourth-year Yankee buyout at $3 million.

With the Yankees, money is never an issue. If they wanted Jeter to have $25 or $30 million, it wouldn’t be any sweat off the Steinbrenners’ checkbook.

The Yankees, to their credit, did make a stand and gave Jeter a respectable offer, one that he was smart enough to take.

Jeter is still among the better-hitting shortstops, but not where he once was. The Yankees could pluck anyone off another team’s roster — the Florida Marlins’ Hanley Ramirez comes to mind — at any time, but they stuck with a legend.

Players like Jeter, a consummate professional who is well-respected by, of all people, the Boston Red Sox, don’t come along very often. He’s been the glue that held the Yankees together for 15 years.

I’m sure fans are glad to see Jeter back. He gives the team something to hold on to. The Yankees want to make sure they don’t hold on too long.

Sam Tallarico is a staff writer for the Butler Eagle.