Yanks Give Up a Heavy Sum to Get a Heavy Pitcher

The whispers said CC Sabathia wanted to play in California. They said he wanted to play in the National League, where he would get to hit. But the deal he has agreed to with the Yankees says he wants $160 million over seven years. A late-night visit by Brian Cashman to San Francisco on Tuesday apparently persuaded the left-handed free agent that New York is a fun place to play, too. The Yankees now have a bona fide ace at the top of their rotation. In his last three seasons, Sabathia has thrown 190, 243, and 251 innings. He has posted ERAs among the best in the league. Will he be great for the lifetime of the contract? Therein lies the rub. But for the first few seasons, the Yankees will be pleased. And they may not be done. Derek Lowe could be next.

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By Tom Boorstein in News on December 10, 2008 11:55 AM

Comments [rss]

kad2105

Boo hoo, the Yankees are actually spending money they have on the team itself! What horrors ensue. It's better than those candy asses in Kansas City who spend less money on their payroll than what they get in luxury tax FROM THE YANKEES ALONE. I'd rather have an owner who puts his profit back into his team than one who pockets his dollars in a big "screw you" to his fans.

matty

"It's so much more fun to watch the Giants compete on equal footing with their opponents than watching the Yanks outspend everyone else by huge margins (and still lose). I'm tired of the Yankees"

This is why I love the giants but hate the yankees.

The giants = true grit

The yankees = true candy asses

smitty

How much is that per pound?

r1b2

It's the right move to make, and no one should be surprised. Mets and Yankees are looking to regain some self-respect, and if they have to buy it, c'est la vie.

drewo

Once the novely of the new stadiums wears off (within a few months) I can foresee lots of empty (and expensive) seats at these new joints.

ChampionOfTheSun

In the midst of this decrepit economy it's sickening to see the Mets and the Yankees spend money like this. The icing on the shit cake is that they're both opening new stadiums.

I love the Mets, but every year I feel more and more like I'm rooting for a corporation, and a little bit of the fan inside me dies.

Also it's getting predictable and boring to see the best free agents end up in Queens or the Bronx.

Wza

Despite spending millions on players over the years, the Yanks haven't won a championship since 2000. Winners since that time? Arizona, Detroit, Florida, St. Louis to name a few.

Guess the luxury tax does work eh?

JenChungsBaby

It's so much more fun to watch the Giants compete on equal footing with their opponents than watching the Yanks outspend everyone else by huge margins (and still lose). I'm tired of the Yankees.

drewo

Innings pitched have gone up. Yankee fans hope the same does not apply to his weight.

PKinNYC

where do we comment on the mets signing KROD for $37 million to pitch one inning every couple of days?

PKinNYC

CC YA IN OCTOBER

whitecastlerock

They can afford this pitcher but need money for their stadium from the city...

neckbeard

here's to hoping this is a carl pavano, kevin brown type of situation.

i guess the economie's not that bad when the yankees can still afford to buy championships.