C.C. Sabathia made headlines yesterday when he declined to say definitively that he won't opt out of his contract after the coming season. Here are some updates on Sabathia and his teammates as Spring Training continues…
- Yankees GM Brian Cashman told Joel Sherman of the New York Post he won't have regrets about granting Sabathia's opt-out clause even if the left-hander exercises it, since the Yankees won a World Series with him (in 2009).
- Yahoo's Jeff Passan says Sabathia will opt out after the season, because the market will allow him to earn more than $92MM in guaranteed money (that's how much will remain on his contract after 2011).
- Sherman says Cliff Lee haunts the Yankees' past, present and future and guesses that it would cost at least seven years and $175MM for the Yankees to re-work Sabathia's contract, partly because of Lee.
- Jorge Posada told Tyler Kepner of the New York Times that it would be "real tough" to play elsewhere after the coming season, when he hits free agency (Twitter link).
It must be a slow news day… Sabathia didn’t say he will and didn’t say he won’t exercise the opt-out… and probably won’t even think about it until the season is over. Really, this is news?
yeah I read an article yesterday somewhere that he only said he is aware that the clause is a possibility. He didn’t say anything about deciding to excercise it any time soon.
If CC wants to opt-out, let him. That’s on him to make more money or not. I mean if I was in his shoes I probably would so I can’t be mad at the guy. Bottom line is, he is good, won a world series, and we need him. There is no alternative to him on the open market next year soo…you guessed it, CC makes bank :).
“Jorge Posada told Tyler Kepner of the New York Times that it would be “real tough” to play elsewhere after the coming season, when he hits free agency (Twitter link).”
Gonna be “real tough” if/when he is the starting catcher for the few games he’s going to catch for the Yankees.
i like how posada thinks another team would even want him…he’ll be a yankee or retire and if he thinks anythign else he’s delusional
Another team would want him, he may not be an everyday catcher but he can still DH and provide occasional back up.
Seriously? Guys like Mark Kotsay are getting contracts and you don’t think Posada could find a DH job somewhere?
he is dislussional. He is finished . He needs to wake up and hang up the spikes,
$175MM is not a number the Yankees should entertain.
And as for Jorge, he is not coming back next year no matter how well he plays.
If Posada has a good 2011 why wouldn’t the Yanks bring him back? I can almost guarantee it won’t be more than maybe a 1 year deal w/ an option and he would probably be the DH and and 3rd catcher but ifhe can perform you do it. You can still find a place for Montero.
1 year deal would be alright, a multi year deal would be a huge mistake
Posada returning in 2012 is really riding on how well Martin, Montero and even Romine play and how Posada performs in full-time dh.
I see how they can play a role. Still if he’s capable of posting decent numbers in 2011 (25 hrs and .360 OBP) then I would bring him back for 1/$8 mil if he was willing to accept. Only I would let him walk after having a “decent” year was if Martin excelled at C in 2011 and Montero needed to get his AB’s @ DH.
I don’t disagree totally, but I think the reality is they will just let him go just like Bobby Abreu and Matsui. If he has a representative season, heck I’d like him back on a one year deal, but at 40 sometimes you just turn the page.
But really.. Martin and Posada are both going to get hurt and Montero and Cervelli will carry it this season.
Why would you assume Posada is going to get hurt, especially as a DH? Not saying he isn’t an injury risk because of age. His body is still susceptible to things like hamstring and groin pulls but I would expect him to hold up better as a DH than a catcher.
Posada is done next year regardless of the numbers he puts up. Can’t afford to risk A-rods body wearing down anymore especially with the money left on the contract. A-rod will become the full time DH next year and so on.
Posada shows no signs that he can stay healthy even as a DH in my opinion. You should expect him to miss about 30 games. If he puts up a line like .265 22HR, .360 OBP I would bring him back for another year but I don’t think they will. It was a great run. I will admit with his pride I think it he has different numbers I think he will play another year or two on another time.
Wrong post.
Let Sabathia go. With a rotation of Prior, Colon, Burnett who needs Sabathia. Although maybe they could bring in Pedro Martinez and then the Yankees would be unstoppable!
Sarcasm aside, I can actually see Burnett having a decent bounce-back season. Not Cy Young caliber but decent. There, I said it.
As long as they trade Pedro at the trade deadline to a playoff contending team who perhaps they could face lol
Unless he has some kind of amazing year, I expect this to be Posada’s last year, at least in Pinstripes. Yankees would be foolish to give a multi year contract to him.
Pretty much. Tops Sado could get — and I personally think it’s going to be a clean cut regardless — would be like the Matsui/Guerrero $7MM special.
Sabathia will probably not opt out.. Ownership will then overrule his decision
Are you saying his wife wants out of NYC? What happened, was she spit on?
It’s going to be like the A-Rod thing a few years ago. Sabathia will opt out like A-Rod did Hank will get all upset and say he will not work out a new deal, but in the end Sabathia will have a new deal and the Yankees will have their Ace back. And it will be chalked up as a matter of miscommunication. Then all things will be back to normal and everyone will be happy again in Yankee land.
“Sherman says Cliff Lee haunts the Yankees’ past, present and future and guesses that it would cost at least seven years and $175MM for the Yankees to re-work Sabathia’s contract, partly because of Lee.”
Really? partly because of Lee? How about 100% because of the idiots that let him get an opt out clause in his contract.
You mean the same opt out clause that was crucial in the initial contract negotiations.?
That would be the one.
It was fun when the Yankees out bid everyone else and win 2 years ago. Now the other shoe comes down. Enjoy.
It happened with 1 player- Cliff Lee, who may I add, was not offered the highest bid by the Yankees, it was by the Rangers.
It was fun over the year seeing the Red Sox outbid the Yankees on free agent Yankee players, and not a single one of them go to Boston, such as Bernie, Pettitte, Rivera
Uh, what makes you think the offer from the Rangers was higher? $148 mil from yankees.
nytimes.com/2010/12/14/sports/baseball/14yankees.h…
And it’s more likely over the years the Red Sox bid on those yankee players to drive up the cost for the yankees. Especially as they didn’t NEED any of those you described.
Rangers offered 6/$138 and a vesting option worth another $23 mil for a total of $161 mil. The Yanks offered 6/$132 and a player option of $16 mil for a total of $148 mil.
twitter dot com/TBrownYahoo/status/14556027458420736
Exactly.
That Rangers offer is actually what Lee’s agent told the Rangers it would take to keep him there according to the Rangers, and they never made that offer to him. On the other hand, NY reportedly made an offer of seven years and excess of $160 million and have Boston to thank as the Red Sox made a lowball seven year offer to Lee knowing full well he wouldn’t take it. Only to make New York up their offer.
“The Yankees’ final offer to Lee came in at $132 million over six years, a source said, with a $16 million player option that could have brought it to $148 million. But as that whopping figure stood out there for days without a positive response from Lee, Yankees officials grew increasingly pessimistic over their chances of landing the pitcher.”
“The Rangers’ highest offer was six years at $138 million, with some of that money deferred (although it’s unclear how much), and a vesting option for a seventh year at $23 million, a source told ESPNDallas Richard Durrett.”
Yankees highest possible offer- 7 years/$148 million, with 6 years/$132 million guaranteed
Rangers guaranteed offer- 6 years/$148 million, vesting option for 7th year and $23 additional million
“And it’s more likely over the years the Red Sox bid on those yankee players to drive up the cost for the yankees. Especially as they didn’t NEED any of those you described. ”
False. The Red Sox offered 7 years/$90 million to Bernie Williams. He signed with the Yankees for 7 years/$87.5 million
The Red Sox in 2004 offered Pettitte 3 years for over $40+ million. He went to Houston
And of course you know about Mariano Rivera this offseason.
Yeah I know about Mariono Rivera this offseason, he inked a deal in NY for the amount that Boston offered. Any idea what NY offered prior to Boston making an offer? See what I mean? These two teams often jump into negotiations just to increase the value for the opposing team. And that’s what I’m stating here.
I believe NY offered 1 year deal at about $17 million, Boston offered the 2 year/$30 million after, Yankees then offered the same amount, and he went back to NY.
“These two teams often jump into negotiations just to increase the value for the opposing team”
Completely agree with that. Happened with Teixiera, happend with Crawford. I’m nto sure how “serious” the Red Sox were interesed in Sabathia but I believe there were negotiations with him although I can’t guarantee that. Of course I know many teams were interested in Sabathia, although I believe I heard a rumor Boston was one of them.
yeah, I believe it happens for just about every free agent…which is good for the player, but not good for the clubs or us fans. I honestly didn’t want Lee to go to NY because it would give a big advantage for NY. I think right now, if you compare the lineup from last year’s numbers the Boston lineup is a little better. NY bullpen is better by probably 2.00 era or so, and the rotation using last years numbers are almost identical in average era. So I think it will be Boston and New York fighting for the lead and wild card now regardless. Now we can disect it to say who had a better year and who should bounce back etc, but I honestly think it’s really really close right now. And for that I’m really happy, because I’m a fan of baseball first.
I’d definitely give the edge to Boston in the rotation by a lot. I think it’s fair to call the Yankees even as it was last year. The loss of Pettitte is a minus, but the loss of Vazquez is a plus. I certianly can’t expect Burnett to put up poor numbers again (same for Beckett in the Sox rotation). I’m not saying great numbers, but Burnett/Beckett like numbers. I think Hughes will rebound and pitch better than he did the 2nd half. The main question is Nova (who I don’t think will have an innings limit since he pitched 187 innings last year, in AAA/MLB) and whoever the 5th starter is. If it’s Garcia, I think they’ll be okay. Truthfully, I wouldn’t expect much of a difference between Garcia’s numbers (if healthy) and Dice-K’s numbers
I don’t know about that. CC is a little better than Lester. I’d say Buch is better than Hughes if they are both the same. Burnett and Beckett are about the same. If Lackey pitches to potential then I’d say Boston has an edge, but the number five I’d say whoever you put in has the potential to be at least comparable to Dice-K. So it’s a matter of Lackey and Buch that would put Boston slightly ahead in my opinion. And then you look at the lineup. Jeter should do better, as well as Tex, and Posada should hit better being just a DH. However, Drew should do better this year also. A few question marks are Jenks and Soriano doing set-up instead of closing. It could be a complete wash and we see the two most evenly matched teams that we’ve seen in a long time. Either way, I can’t wait!
1- Orioles
2- Blue Jays
3- Rays
4- Yankees
5- Red Sox
Cy Young award winner- Brad Bergesen
MVP- J.J Hardy
Well its nice to see a Red Sox fan who isn’t oh the Red Sox are better and are gonna slaughter the Yankees blah blah blah they are still pretty even. I knew that they did exist lol. As far as the CC thing goes whatever he does I think the Yankees will do there best to keep him and its not like he hates playing in NY. We’ll just have to wait a year and see what happens maybe they’ll break their rule and try to sign CC to an extension during the year they really need him.
another stupid Red Sox fan.
care to elaborate on that?
No one should blame the Yankees for including an opt out clause that was the sole basis of him making his decision at the time. Facts are that he was very leary of following the money to NY and was not sure if he was gonna want to be there for 7 years.
No one should blame him for taking adbvantage of it next off season either. The guy is at the top of his game, 30 years old (though older from an innings perspective) arguably the best starting pitcher in the game, and hes also not exactly a specimen of human conditioning.
If he doesn’t opt out, he’s gonna have a hard time four years from now getting what he can get for 3 more years today, then.
He should (and will) command a 6 to 7 year 24-25 mm per deal.
And don’t count out Philadelphia if he does opt out. Ibanez, Lidge, Madson, rollins and Baez all come off the books next year, Oswalt has an option, and Blanton will likely be gone. Granted, you’d have to get Luzinski and Bowa to come out of retirement to play LF and SS, but they could afford him, and he and Lee are buddies.
CC to Philly wouldn’t happen in a million billion years.
If the Phillies rotation consisted of CC, Halladay, Lee, Oswalt and Hamels, anything short of 173-0 would be disappointing.
add a trillion in there and you’ve hit it spot on
Yeah, kind of like what everyone was saying a few months ago when Cliff Lee was only going to Texas or The Yankees.
When it comes to a MARQUEE free agent, in todays market you can’t count Philly out. In this instance I think the only difference is that CC, if he opts out, is opting out cause he wants to get paid, and he loves NY. Chances of him landing anywhere else rely solely on the Yankees desire to keep him.
I never for a second thought he was going to the Yankees, I thought it was all Texas. The Phillies will still have a high payroll even with Ibanez, Lidge, Blanton, and Rollins all off the payroll next year because Ryan Howard’s raise kicks in as well as Cliff Lee’s. Not to mention they have to take care of Cole Hamels. They don’t have the money to offer CC a huge contract. This is a case where you can officially count out the Phillies.
Oh man now this up coming off season if/when Sabathia opts out we are going to have to hear people start to say that “Sabathia is going to go to Philly, his wife and Cliff Lee’s wife are best friends.” I thought we were finally done with that when Lee signed with Philly.
CC aint coming to Philly. But we dont need him here. Pithing is as solid on this Phillies team as any team in the history of baseball. More pressing needs areRollins staying heathy and Dom Brown developing as the top prospect he is. CC will get paid,but 170 million is a tad rediculous. The financial climate of Sports has turned into something of a joke. Its nice to esee them get paid. But it turns into a pissing contest, greed and egotistical games. I make more,he made more and I did better, so why aint I paid, guys like Boras take genuine players developed from high school to the pros in some cases, and care only about the dollar, leaving teams like the xpos, pirates etc, losing all their talent.
If the Yankees finish 2011 in 3rd place or lower, Sabbathia is gone, after the season. C. C. wants as much guaranteed money and as many playoff rings as he can acquire. He played for too long in Cleveland for too little money. Best bet? He heads for California to play.
This has very little to do with how the Yankees perform and everything to do with how CC performs. If the Yankees come in 3rd place, miss the playoffs and CC made 10 starts and won 8 games, he’s not going anywhere for higher than the 4/92 already on his contract.
Did not mean to like. Why would he head to California? Why would his chances be any better there?
That should read, made 20 starts and won 8 games
If C. C. only starts 20 games and wins 8, the Yankees may be looking up at Baltimore by September, 2011.
Anything possible, but don’t count on it. The Yanks scored the most runs last year by alot and their offense should be better this year. I can’t imagine AJ will pitch as bad as last year, and I think Nova will be better than Vasquez was last year. Jeter, Posada, Granderson, and Tex should do better than last year. Add to that an A prospect who can hit like Montero and the fact that the Yanks will go after another pitcher mid season it looks like the Yanks will be one of the favorites again this year.
The bidding for CC would be really entertaining if the Cards don’t sign Pujols, the Rangers go after him like they did Lee, and the Nats decide to throw more money around. That would be fun to watch.
AJ will be 16-10 this year with a 4.00ERA, Posada will retire after this year, and CC will get a new contract. Money has never been an issue with the Yanks.
7 years $157M sounds about right for CC. That’s what Santana got including his club option. Seems like a good comparable at the time of the signing.