A week ago, the New York Yankees offered C.C. Sabathia a record setting contract for a pitcher, six years and $140 million.
Close to two weeks later, there has been no response from the best pitcher in baseball, prompting the Yankees and new boss, Hal Steinbrenner to inform him that the offer isn’t on the table forever. Now, the Los Angeles Angels, led by their giving owner Arte Moreno, have entered the Sabathia sweepstakes and could be the front-runner in this race.
The Yankees, known for buying their way into contention, went on a rare spending freeze last season deciding to go in a different direction—a youth movement anchored by prospects from their minor league system, Phillip Hughes and Ian Kennedy. The Brian Cashman led experiment didn’t lead to the results he expected. They missed the playoffs for the first time in thirteen years.
One of the major gaffes of last season was Cashman rejecting the Johan Santana trade because he didn’t want to exchange Hughes, outfielder Melky Cabrera, and two middle of the road prospects. Cabrera was sent down to the minors and Hughes suffered an injury ridden season.
So after a year of keeping their wallets stuffed, the Yankees are now busting out their wallets to the top free agents on the market.
- B/R Ticket Guide
This upcoming season, the Yankees move into a new stadium right across the street from the old Cathedral. One of the major reasons they re-signed A-Rod was to have a star to attract fans to the park. The suits at 880 River Ave feel the need to make a splash and there’s no bigger splash in the water than the nearly 300 pound Sabathia.
But Hal and Brian, I'm here to warn you: Don’t sign CC, because you will regret it sometime around year three or four.
Let him go back to his home state of California or become a Brett Favre like God in Milwaukee, but don’t bring him to New York. It’s well known amongst baseball circles that Sabathia isn’t too keen on NY, and his success level in the pitcher unfriendly Yankee Stadium is minimal to date (2-4 lifetime).
In addition, history works against Sabathia despite his greatness. Kevin Brown, Mike Hampton, and Barry Zito are all examples of pitcher who signed six-year deals and were overwhelming busts.
Many feel offering Sabathia a three to four year deal worth $30 million per year with a team option for the subsequent year is a better proposition than taking a chance on an overweight pitcher who’s knees can give out at any point. The same way David Wells had trouble staying healthy, who’s to say it wont occur with Sabathia as well.
Granted, Sabathia has had a fairly solid health history in the majors, but his body isn’t the only thing you should worry about. You also have to take into account the psychological toll playing in the world’s toughest media market can have on anyone’s psyche.
The Yankees are looking at CC as an attraction, but also as someone that can bring them back to the promise land—the World Series. But in his career, Sabathia’s playoff ERA nears 8.00 and we all saw the five runs he gave up early in the NLDS against the champion Phillies. His playoff history isn’t a promising one and pitching 494 innings in the last two years probably helped contribute to that.
In the end, Cashman, Hal, and even George are desperate for the success they tasted between 96 and 2001. It’s escaped them for seven straight years. But in many instances, desperation leads to bad decisions.
Is the short-term fix of C.C. Sabathia worth taking on the long-term risk of C.C Sabathia?
comments (16) write a comment »
write a new comment
about 1 month ago
I think that the Yankees will regret it if they don't sign him. You made the point about teams regretting Zito, Brown, and Hampton's contracts, but Sabathia is way better than Hampton and Zito and at least as good as Brown. The only reason the dodgers regretted Brown was because of injuries, but Sabathia is still very young and injuries are a few years away.
about 1 month ago
There's no doubt he's better than those three pitchers I mentioned. I just think the Yankees are banking on him when they really need more than him to survive.
about 1 month ago
Giambi, Clemens, Mussina, Abreu, A-Rod, etc. Without buying up these players, they would've never won some of those tail-end championships. You are right, Wells was a durable pitcher, but he also collapsed towards the end of his career. A six year deal for Sabathia would be a long time with that weight on him. Thanks for the feedback.
about 1 month ago
Ehh, but you can make the point that A rod was bought out... what other team could afford him besides the yanks or the red sox? Even though he was traded, he would have only been a commodity for another what 2 or 3 seasons before he was back on the market and with how much the Yanks paid him with his new contract, no one else would have come close! But I deffinitely agree with your point Calvin, but I also understand what Claudio is saying... but the bottom line here is, the Yanks dont need to spend so much when they dont need to. The Yanks are going to dump an obscure amount of money into one player hoping he will be the savior for the 09 season when thats the furthest from the truth. They should be balanced, go out, get a few pitchers and a few bats, dont bank on one guy turning your tean around, thats obsured! By the way Calvin, Mike Mussina was a great signing, not just a pretty good one, lol!
about 1 month ago
I agree with the writer about Sabathia....it's clear he wants nothing to do with the Yankees or he'd at least talk to them, and yes, Mussina was a great signing...by the way, I think they should bring Abreu back...he was the most patient hitter in the lineup and managed to get on base with a hit or a walk 85% of the time....there's too many free swingers with the Yankees....
about 1 month ago
Hughes wasn't sent down, he was hurt all year
from about 1 month ago
Thanks for that correction Daniel. I appreciate it.
about 1 month ago
I agree with the writer when it comes to Sabathia as well. However, I don't agree with some of the points being made in the comments section. The Yankees aren't zoning in on just Sabathia, they are trying to open the checkbook and get a bunch of new pitchers. Sabathia, Burnett, Lowe, whoever the rumor mill has churning today. The Yankees lust for Sabathia is just not returned, so I would pull the offer now. The Angels obviously know they don't have to match the Yankees offer, just get close. End result here, if somebody wants to overpay for an overweight pitcher who has no established track record when the temperature drops, better it be the Angels or Giants. Good article though!
about 1 month ago
Claudio, probably Im the only one who thinks Sabathia is not that great, he's not the best pitcher as people claims, that performance with the Brewers was the only one excellent of his career then he had two other good seasons not great, and most of his career was not good at all. Johan Santana I would say is an amazing pitcher, another great pitcher and always has been is Roy Halladay, also Cliff Lee who is way better than Sabathia, there are a lot of pitchers better than Sabathia, I predict he wont be pitching as good as he pitched this time with the Brewers, he might be another Pavano, another Jaret Wright, another Javier Vasquez.
from about 1 month ago
Calvin, no one has the absolute truth, we all have a relative truth as the absolute truth is atomized, that's why we're here on the comments section to discuss every one point of view and as I respect yours I think if I'm not wrong you have to respect mine as well.
When I was checking the stats, I realized I was wrong on Cliff Lee, but I think my truth about Santana and Halladay over Sabathia is very understandable and logical.
You are free to refute my theory or truth.
about 1 month ago
C.C. Sabathia is a monster and the only reason he has such a high era in the post season is because his teams ride him into the ground (well over 200 innings) and he's out of gas come playoff time.
How many times did the Brewers pitch him on three days rest without him once complaining? That was unconscionable and they rode him until he finally tired out.
All this talk about what the Yankees spend or don't spend is ridiculous. They are the only franchise of their kind. What would everybody rather do, put the money in the Steinbrenners' pockets?
Let them spend and field the best team possible.
Their championship years had a nucleus of homegrown players to rival any team out there.
And here's the biggest reason the Yankees HAVE TO spend more money than any other teams:
Plenty of players can't handle the pressure of playing for the Yankees and they wilt.
Unfortunately, we don't find out until it's too late and we have to ship them out. Also, most players are afraid to take the risk of coming into New York and we have to overpay to get them to man up.
That's the price of doing business.
about 1 month ago
Reasons why the Yankees should pass on CC:
None unless you root for the Red Sox, Rays, Angels or any other AL contender.
about 1 month ago
CC is the best in the league and if the Yankees have a chance at all, then they have to sign Sabathia. Who will be their ace of the future? Tis all about the rotation - pitching. I would advise they get CC and offer 145 - 150M - just like what was being rumored for Santana last year. I would also tell Cashman to move hard on Doc Halladay, because since AJ will be gone, then TOR is worse off this yr than last - and we all recall the mid season rumors of a want to win the WSC. TOR needs to rebuild and now, not hold onto someone when they have no chance of geting past Tampa,NY and BOS. CC, DOc and then Peavy or Sheets. Add Moyer as a 6th to have 2 trades, add 2 FAs plus Joba and Pet for 6. Wang for Doc, Hughes and Cabrera for Peavy. I'd also trade Cano for Brian Roberts -the Os have to rebuild and save money. Finally - Manny and re-sign Giambi. With 85 million off the books the Yanks would push the budget with these moves. Damon, Jeter, A-Rod, Manny, Giambi, Roberts, Posada, Nady Swisher with CC, Doc, Pet, Joba, Peavy, Moyer. All for less then 85 mill
from about 1 month ago
Toronto will hope to sign AJ but I dont think it will happen.
Still, if Toronto signs no one and struggles with their performance and economics, I can see Halladay being shopped next off season when it becomes obvious that Toronto has to rebuild and the fans will be more open to that move. Trading Hallady now would upset the fan base and be giving up on 2009.
If Toronto really struggled I guess he could be moved in July but trades of that size are much harder to pull at that time when both teams would have to move key players. Its easier to compensate during the offseason. But Halladay isnt on the table for anyone just yet.
about 1 month ago
I've read that TOR is quietly shopping Halladay around. (MLB Trade Rumors.com) Why wait? TOR might decide to dump the money now, rather than to keep a disgruntled ace with no hope to win. Remember the reports last July about Halladay? He wont want to stick around. It all comes down to whats being offered. They know they have to rebuild and if the deal is right, they could start right now while freeing up more than 20 mill in AJ and Doc & getting decent talent in return.
Who knows. Cashman said on the hot stove that fans would be "wowed" and say they never saw some of the major moves to happen, coming.
PR
about 1 month ago
Darnell- how does it make no sense? Just look at the man. Do you really think he could go 10 more years being an ace pitcher while weighing more than David Wells? It just wont happen, his body will eventually give.
He has never been seriously injured, but neither has Peavy. He has, however, gone 200+ innings multiple times in his career, including when the Brewers pitched him on 3 days rest for like a month. All these factors adding up and I just see him as more of a future injury risk than peavy.
write a new comment