TAMPA, Fla. -- The New York Yankees dared Derek Jeter to test the free-agent market. They even told their 36-year-old shortstop that he needed to drink some "reality potion." And though The Captain is back, he's not happy about how contract negotiations went.

"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't angry how some of this went," Jeter said at the news conference to announce his three-year, $51 million deal that includes a player option for a fourth year on Tuesday at the team's spring training complex.

Jeter did not like that the negotiations went public as the Yankees and Jeter's agent, Casey Close, went back-and-forth in the press. Jeter even distanced himself from Close's comments in which he described the negotiations as "baffling."

"I'm going to be honest with you guys, the thing that bothered me the most was how public this became," said Jeter, who thought there was a perception he was being greedy and demanding. "This was a negotiation that was supposed to be private. It was an uncomfortable position I felt I was in. It was not enjoyable experience because throughout the years I've prided myself on keeping things out of the papers and out of the media. This turned into a big public thing. That is something I was not happy about. I let my feelings be known."

On three occasions during the negotiations, Jeter met with Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner and Yankees general manager Brian Cashman. While the Yankees and Jeter have agreed to reconcile, Cashman had no regrets about speaking publicly about Jeter.