When 3,000 Equals 1099

Add this to the inflated cost of nearly everything related to the Yankees:

[The fan who caught the home run ball that was Derek Jeter’s 3,000th hit and did the decent thing by promptly returning it] will probably be on the hook for $5,000 to $13,000 because of the luxury seats the grateful Yankees gave him, the accountants said.

. . .

[The fan], a Verizon customer sales rep, caught the home run ball on Saturday and gifted it, no strings attached, to Jeter.

In return, the Yankees gave him luxury suite tix for every remaining home game as well as any postseason games the Yankees may play in — a gift valued in the neighborhood of $32,000.

He also received some autographed bats, balls and jerseys.

The IRS declined to comment, but accountants say the agency will view Lopez’s reward from the team as income.

And then Jeter bags out on the All-Star game . . .