[Wingack]

http://www.nypost.com/seven/12102008/sport...deal_143481.htm

Quote

CC Sabathia is not going to play on the West Coast. He is not going to play in the National League. CC Sabathia is going to be a Yankee, The Post has learned exclusively.

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 YankeesNew York 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.

BEAUTIFUL!

[TheoShmeo]

Wingack, on Dec 10 2008, 05:29 AM, said:

BEAUTIFUL!

It's always special when Yankees and Red Sox fans have the same reaction.

If this clears the way to the Yankees signing a player at huge bucks who just might break down along the way, and whose signing might take the Steinbrenners out of the Teixeira sweepstakes and thereby make the Sox path to Teixeira a little easier, then this Sox fan would say it was beautiful, too.

If this happens, are the Yankees still aggressive Derek Lowe suitors?

[TheShynessClinic]

Until I see a more reliable source pick this up, I'll remain skeptical.

None of Espn, SI, Fox Sports, or Yahoo! Sports are even hinting at this.

[Wingack]

TheShynessClinic, on Dec 10 2008, 06:05 AM, said:

Until I see a more reliable source pick this up, I'll remain skeptical.

None of Espn, SI, Fox Sports, or Yahoo! Sports are even hinting at this.

They are talking about it on Mike and Mike, Sherman is going to be on shortly. Sherman will be on FAN this hour too.

[Wingack]

TheoShmeo, on Dec 10 2008, 06:04 AM, said:

If this happens, are the Yankees still aggressive Derek Lowe suitors?

Personally, I sure hope they don't. I would much rather they take the chance on Sheets now that they get a more steady guy to go in front of the rest of the rotation.

[TheShynessClinic]

Wingack, on Dec 10 2008, 06:09 AM, said:

They are talking about it on Mike and Mike, Sherman is going to be on shortly. Sherman will be on FAN this hour too.

Then I withdraw my skepticism. Congrats Winack.

So who wants to start the poll as to when CC goes on the DL for the first time?

I'll put my bet on May 22nd.

[Wingack]

Olney talking about the deal and basically confirming on M&M.

[bankshot1]

Gotta hand it to MFYs persistance, their scouting and development programs, and that BofA didn't pull their credit line.

[RedOctober3829]

Hannah Storm comes in on SportsCenter before the taped version and says CC has taken the NYY deal.

[Spacemans Bong]

I'm surprised he took the deal considering there's an article on the SF Chronicle dated at 4 pm yesterday saying that Sabathia and the Giants met. I guess Cashman threatened to pull the deal and CC got the jitters.

[bsj]

LOL. So much for the west coast gahbige....he went for the $ like they all do....

Goes without saying, but big signing for NY

[ifmanis5]

NYC local stations reporting the deal is done as well. CC over Johan? Bad call.
FA pitching is Cashman's kryptonite.

[Mystic Merlin]

ifmanis5, on Dec 10 2008, 08:15 AM, said:

NYC local stations reporting the deal is done as well. CC over Johan? Bad call.
FA pitching is Cashman's kryptonite.

Eh. They didn't "choose" CC over Johan, obviously.

Plus, Johan cost prospects as well as money, so it's a completely false dichotomy. CC is arguably a better catch in the endgame because it allows the Yankees to keep Hughes.

[Flynn4ever]

Well, good on 'em. I'm pleased that they got a front line starter that we hit the hell out of.

[CoRP]

That's almost $500,000 per pound.

[Wingack]

Quote

NYC local stations reporting the deal is done as well. CC over Johan? Bad call.

CC only cost money, which the Yankees have in abundance.

Johan cost prospects and money. The Yankees don't have an over abundance of prospects.

[ifmanis5]

I'd much rather have Johan and no Hughes than CC and Hughes long term. That was the choice they made and I think it's a bad one. Just my opinion, though. We'll see how it shakes out.

Bronx restaurants and caterers are the real winners here.

[Mystic Merlin]

ifmanis5, on Dec 10 2008, 08:34 AM, said:

I'd much rather have Johan and no Hughes than CC and Hughes long term. That was the choice they made and I think it's a bad one. Just my opinion, though. We'll see how it shakes out.

Bronx restaurants and caterers are the real winners here.

How was that the "choice" they made? These negotiations were independent of each other and nearly separated by a year. In fact, one could argue that acquiring Johan would not have an effect on their ability to pursue Sabathia (although this point is arguable). Even though it was known Sabathia was a FA this offseason at the time, a team like the Yankees isn't and should not make decisions based on future FA classes. Too much can change. They didn't make a conscious choice, even if, in the end, they acquired Sabathia and not Santana. Simply repeating your argument doesn't make it any more true.

Note: In retrospect, it's easy to mock the Yankees for not pulling the trigger on a deal, but it made some serious sense overall at the time.

I think your argument makes a few mistakes:

1.) Severely undervalues Phil Hughes. This is pretty common with prospects who initially struggle at the big league level, but it's an issue nonetheless.

2.) Overestimates the concerns over Sabathia's weight/body type/eating habits. Sabathia has proven to be an extremely durable pitcher, throwing at least 180 innings every season since 2001. The long-term knocks on him are conjecture - there's no actual reason to believe he will suffer any more a drop in effectiveness or durability than Santana. His contract takes him through his age 33 season - the Yankees will have tied him up through his prime and minimized any chance at catching a precipitous decline.

[ifmanis5]

The Yanks knew CC was available this year when they passed on the Johan deal. The two deals are *very* much related.
And CC in the playoffs has been really bad. If I'm a Yankee fan I'd want Johan by 10 miles. It's not even close.

CC last 2 playoff seasons: 1-2, 8.80 ERA, 0-1, 12.27 ERA
Johan last 2 playoff seasons: 1-0, 0.75 ERA, 0-1, 2.25 ERA

[HomeBrew1901]

I'm really happy about the signing because I'm hoping that it takes the Yankees out of the Teixeira bowl.

Overall it is a good move by the Yankees, but if the speculation is true, that CC can opt out after 2 years, I think that is a horrible move by the Yankees to include that in the contract. If CC breaks down in another year and a half and pulls a Pavano the Yankees are screwed.

If he is lights out and has another Cy Young season, I can see him pulling an A-Rod and holding the Yankees up for more money and a longer term contract.