During his intense contract negotiations with the New York Yankees in 2010, Derek Jeter was told by Brian Cashman that the club preferred Troy Tulowitzki at shortstop.

According to Sports Illustrated, Jeter asked Cashman whom he'd rather have playing shortstop for the Yankees.

Cashman's answer was among others, Troy Tulowitzki.

"Do you really want me to answer that?" Cashman told Jeter. "We're not paying extra money for popularity. We're paying for performance."

Jeter, who was seeking a four- to six-year deal in the area of $22 million to $24 million a year, eventually signed a three-year, $51 million extension with the Yankees.

Cashman told the New York Daily News on Wednesday that he didn't provide any quotes from Jeter's negotiations to Sports Illustrated but that he "didn't confirm or deny" the report and didn't take issue with it. He confirmed that SI spent time with him but also that the magazine talked to others and "did a lot of homework."