Yankees ready to sign CC Sabathia
There was talk about wanting the opportunity to hit, to play for his home state and the desire to be a Dodger. But in the end, it was all about the money.
CC Sabathia is on the verge of signing a seven-year contract with the New York Yankees worth at least $160 million according to ESPN.
After three straight days of face-to-face meetings between GM Brian Cashman and Sabathia, the big lefty decided he wants to spend the next six years of his career as a Yankee. The decision came late last night after Cashman flew to see Sabathia at his home in San Francisco. By the time the meeting was concluded, Sabathia had informed the Yankees that he had made his decision to call New York his baseball home, the Post has learned.
There are still minor hurdles to finalize, notably that Sabathia must pass a physical. But after so much belief that Sabathia was stalling because he wanted to avoid New York, he agreed to the largest pitching contract in major league history, at least $140 million.
It means that the Yankees have lassoed the player they were building their offseason around: An ace in his prime. Sabathia is just 28, and last year between the Indians and Brewers he went 17-10 with a 2.70 ERA. The previous season he won the AL Cy Young. Now he is the first major new piece to be put into the new Yankee Stadium.
Should we be surprised? No. Money talks and the Yankees have a lot of it. Maybe he had other reasons to sign with the Bronx Bombers that aren’t being reported yet, but it really appears that the cash trumped all.
You have to hand it to the Yankees. They had to get pitching this offseason and they landed the biggest fish in the free agency pond. But it’ll be interesting to see if CC goes the way of Mike Hampton, Barry Zito and all of the other pitchers who got massive free agency deals and then effectively became dog crap. Either way, the Yankees got their guy.
This will go down as one of the worst contracts in history. I have a feeling he’ll put on another 150 and be out of baseball in 3-4 years.
Very pleased with todays news and hats of the Brian Cashman who really did work to get this done at what appears to be the original offer.
Nobody knows how he will do but getting a young guy instead of guys at the end of their careers is big. Should either Kennedy or Hughes develope now it would be another step to get younger and something needed.
I would also caution people to hold off on any ideas about Cano leaving…He’s locked in a contract and is working hard this off season.
forgetaboutit
Wow. When do these salaries stop?? The economic shape of this country right now and the deals get bigger and bigger. Based on CC’s 36 wins over the past two years, the numbers being thrown around result in the Yanks paying $1.2 million for each win. Unbelievable !!!!
Wish I could still throw a baseball……
Obviously we need the Stienbrenner Family running Freddy and Fannie instead of the asswipes doing it now.
We need people that can take 10 million and turn it into a billion working for us.
Get the O’Bombster on the phone…and let him know that Hank is availible….
36 wins over two years is more than Mussina and Petite had and lets not forget about the ages…
No, this is a good thing and buys time for Kennedy & Hughes who still have nothing but upside at this point.
Maybe they bring Petite back for the 5th spot at a lower cost.
What a shock. CC was always about the money.
“I” am about the money, too !!!! Who wouldn’t be, especially these kinds of numbers. More power to Sabathia for getting what he can. These numbers are mind-boggling. How many millions are enough?
I think I said it a few months ago. Now Chubby Boy can have the press conference, slide on the pajamas and tell us he always wanted to be a yankee ….. pitifull. The system is a joke and that the E E takes advantage of it and jams it down our throats once again.
Sad
Ahh Shucks, and I thought we were gonna sign him in K C.
Wow – just wow. More power to CC for taking what he can get, I suppose.
This is great news. MLB just laid off 20 employees but but the players get more millions, just like the NFL. Glad to see professional sports leagues are keeping up with the economic times…screw the people who make things run so the millionaires can keep theirs.
I’m just glad CC can feed his family…and obviously it takes a lot to feed himself.
I don’t fault the players for taking what they can get. I don’t fault the owners for getting the largest return possible on their investment.
As long as the fans continue to pay the freight, it’s just people buying a product.
To follow up, I’ve been supporting my local minor league club rather than going down to Miller Park.
I enjoy the smaller environment, and I can afford to take my son to more games that way. But I’m not gonna sit here and trash the majors; spend your entertainment dollars as you see fit.
“Cashman worked real hard on this…..”
Now that’s funny right there, I don’t care who ya are, that’s good humor!
Cashman: “C.C., I’ll give ya $140 million to come to the Bronx….”
CC: “Hmmmmmmmmmm…”
Cashman: “We have a new stadium with free parking for players, courtesy of the NY taxpayers….”
CC: “OK!”
Cashman is freakin’ brilliant…..give that man a raise! Did he go to the Harvard Business School?
I think he needs a vacation after that negotiation.
I agree with Jeff. So far, this is still a free country. Anyone is free to make as much money as they can!!! People with money (Yankees, Red Sox, etc) are free to spend theirs. If you don’t like it you are free to not watch, listen, or read about it. We are all free. God Bless America.
Funny..we don’t begrudge athletes and owners for making as much as they can, but oil company execs were vilified for record profits when we were paying over $4 a gallon. America always gives rich athletes a free pass for some reason.
Da Bear…what about those who want to watch but can’t afford it any longer?
Last time I checked – listening to the radio was cheap enough.
(Sorry to get political on a sports blog)
As for oil company execs vs ball players, I can live just fine without paying for baseball (for the most part). I’d have a real serious problem living without gas.
Consider that most of your food isn’t local – you’re paying for gas even if you don’t drive. In one case, oil companies, we’re over the barrel (!?) – in the other, baseball, we can get up and walk away anytime we like.
The situations are inherently different.
Note though that people actually did start adjusting their lives, using less gas and buying more local products when gas was so high – I think we actually scared ‘em a little.