When we last checked in on the C.C. Sabathia situation, Paul Hoynes spoke of a December offer for $68-72MM covering the 2009-12 seasons, plus a bonus added for ’08.
Hoynes writes about the topic again today and has slightly different information. Now he says the four-year extension offer includes the 2008 season, so it would run through 2011. Sabathia is set to earn $11.25MM in ’08.
That’s really a three-year extension. Johan Santana received extra money for ’08, a five-year extension, and a valuable 2014 option with a solid buyout. Here’s what I think the Indians would need to do to sign Sabathia, at the minimum:
- Give him a $6MM bonus to put toward ’08
- Offer another four years (2009-12) at $75MM, an average annual value of $18.75MM
- If the Tribe offered that and Sabathia passed, they could at least say they made a competitive offer.