The ink is almost dry
Posted by: Peter Abraham - Posted in Misc on Dec 10, 2008 
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There was little chance Brian Cashman would return from California without a deal last night. And he delivered.
The Yankees are still working on the details but it will be for seven years and $161 million with an opt-out clause after 2011 and $69 million. That clause is protects Sabathia should his wife and kids dislike New York. But the Yankees will go to great lengths to make sure that is not the case.
Those who wrote or said yesterday that the Sabathia was backing away from the Yankees or that the Yankees should look elsewhere for pitching are running for cover now or pretending they never reported it in the first place.
Give credit to both the Yankees and Sabathia and his agents. Each side did their homework and were composed throughout the process. The Yankees didn’t push when patience was needed and Sabathia didn’t get carried away playing teams off each other.
Sleep in this morning, Pete? Kidding.
There’s no accountability anymore Pete. People will now say “it’s only about the money”.
I’m doing a jig as I type this…
I am psyched… I could care less how much or for how long, I’m happy we have an ACE!
Damn Pete. Thought you hit the Jackpot last night and quit your job!
n opt-out clause after 2011 and $69 million.
What does this mean in American English. Not clear.
Mission accomplished by all concerned! I’m not a big fan of opt-out clauses, but if that’s what it took to get it done, so be it. CC will be tremendous in NYC and with the Yanks bullpen he wont have to deal with being overworked like the last two years. I’m betting one more major acquisition by the end of the week
Good signing, the opt out doesn’t bother me a whit, and now we have a nice 1-2 punch at the top of the rotation with CC and CMW.
I’m hoping Sheets gets offered a contract, and the rotation shapes up as:
1)CC
2)CMW
3)Sheets
4)Inning limited Joba
5)Hughes/Aceves/IPK
6)Hughes/Aceves/IPK
Top three should carry a decent innings burden, and you hope that two of the three guys in slots 4 and 5 work out. If not, there are more live arms in the minors.
Now go get a bat!
I’ve been refreshing mlbtraderumors.com all day today, and this is great news.
Last I checked, Yanks offered Lowe 4 years for $66m… and they are extremely competitive with Atlanta in the Burnett sweepstakes as well.
Good lord, the yanks might have a set rotation prior to Opening Day 2009. A first since mid to late 1990′s.
Expect a lot more signings to happen now since CC agreed to an offer!
yeah you can always count on lohud for the breaking news!!!
mlbtraderumors was slow too.
of course the yankees would throw in that 1 extra million in addition to the reported 160M offer that is being reported everywhere… my guess is that they wanted to do so in order to make him officially the highest paid pitcher in the game by anual salary, the 160M would give him 22.857M per year but with the 1 extra mil its an even 23M per year which nudges him above Johan
Hey Pete,
Are you at all surprised that C.C. signed this early? I like him a lot, but like you, I realized that this was the biggest business decision of his life and that it was completely understandable for him to want to draw out the process for the best deal he could get.
Maybe he just realized the non-Yankee market could not compete, and didn’t want to get stuck where Manny finds himself now (not that Manny won’t be able to get a deal)?
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn.....ney_buster
In the meeting that Sabathia had with the Yankees, a question was asked in the room about whether there was an irreparable split between the two most dominant personalities in the room, A-Rod and Derek Jeter, and Yankees general manager Brian Cashman responded by talking about how the two men are just different.
Pray tell, Brian. How are they different?
Great this is what we needed.
I just don’t like the opt out clause after just three seasons, opt after four would’ve been better. But we got him and thats what matters.
I dont think it’s far-fetched to think that Sabathia might be the #3 starter on the Yankees in three years. Wang is still young and Joba is hugely talented.
I guess we’ll see =)
Where have you been Pete? Tough night?
Asked this in the last thread.
“3rd year opt out? Horrendous deal.”
I can understand the opt out clause Al just in case he and his family didnt like the life style. What i dont understand is why did we have to go 7 years when no one was even close to us in the bidding?
Oh goody let the Fatcessa slurping contest begin.
CC will cost quite a bit less than Pettite/Pavano. Now if Pettite returns for $ 12 or so they’ll be in really good shape. If they nab AJ or Sheets AND Pettite they have a phenomenal rotation.
Thank god! You couldn’t have a better fit for what the yankees needs are! I think now we should sign sheets and manny and use Hughes or aceves as the 5 th starter. Ifnot manny maybe dunn we need offense to replace gianbi and abreu. I think one bat will do it with an improved cano and a healthy posada. Biggest day in Yankee land since we got arod!
The story was all over the NYPost this a.m. but I wanted to wait on you Pete. If you all get a chance, go over to some of the BoSox sites and look at the chatter. Amazing how they can paint this pick up as awful. RSN..I’d be scared too.
mel/pat:
Don’t know if you saw in the other thread, but thanks for your help with the hyperlink thingy. I don’t know what I was doing before.
Pete is alive!!
HEY PETE!!!!!!!!!!!!! Tell us what took you soooooooooooooo long……………………….. WE are family we have a right to know!!!!!!!
3 years for $69 million essentially a damn good deal. He has the choice to pick up or drop the option, and the Yankees price is not going to be trumped 3yrs from now.
(from the previous post)
Brandon,
I fell asleep too but I saw my props. LOL.
My only concern is the implication that CC is not happy to be becoming a yankee and is just “settling” because of the money
Welcome CC. Enjoy your stay.
Is there anyway we can keep the Red Sox from getting Tex? What’s the latest there? We need bats, and I don’t see any out there other than Manny (*sigh), and Dunn (NO WAY).
I am not a fan of the opt-out clause. Fortunately, CC is not ARod, and his agent is not Boras.
My Rotation!
CC Sabathia
Wang
Joba
Hughes
Lowe
I’m upset about the 3rd year opt out yes this is good for now. However he is only here for 3 years? If he wanted to go home he should have declined us and sat around for the Giants.
i can feel the boston pukes cringe. I love it. any word of manny in the bronx swirling around in vegas? there are rumors on the internets (bushism) that hank is beating the drum for dreadlocks in left.
Al doesn’t think before he posts SOS.
He just posts the first thing that comes in his head.
The opt out was something that was a part of every offer Sabathia had.
The Brewers said today that the opt out was also a part of their discussions with him.
If the guy wants an opt out from everybody, you have to put it in the deal.
Bottom line, they have him for a minimum of 3 years. I’ll take it and move on.
If he likes it here, he stays longer.
The opt out isn’t a big deal except for those who universally whine about the team on a daily basis.
Bottom line, they got their man.
Now, its time to finish up the rotation.
Pete -
I was getting worried about you! Glad you’re here.
Good deal. Now, moving on, right??
OH GOD! Francessa is using CC as a Joba in the pen rant starter. I just had to turn off my radio.
Niiice.
Francesa: “I can’t remember the last time the Yankees paid so much more for a player that was available”.
I guess he was in a coma last year during the Arod negotiations.
He’s still hawking Joba in the ‘pen.
Good God, this guy is stupid.
Brain did a great job. If he opts out after 3 then we should have some youngsters ready to go. Hughes will have three years to prove themself.
“Brandon,
I fell asleep too but I saw my props. LOL.”
….keep it zipped.
C.C. you in the Bronx!
Not Joba in the pen… ahhhhhhhhhhhhh
GET OVER IT
“I hope they see the light”
Oh right being fat, dumb, and drinking diet coke makes you a baseball genius.
SHUT UP!!!
Just put Sabathia in the pen too he is lefty and throws hard
wow, way to bid against yourself, yankees. start at 140, have no one else outbid you, then RAISE the offer to 160?? what is the reasoning here?
Hey Pete, good to see ya back!
Fatcessa saids CC is 300 pounds…oh boy
No sleep Cash. Tex cannot go to Boston. Get Sheets and Andy too.
GreenBeret7
December 10th, 2008 at 1:00 pm
Gotta love Ned Colletti’s work as a stand-up comic, if not as a baseball GM.
T.J. Simers talked to Dodgers GM Ned Colletti, who said Scott Boras told him four other teams have expressed interest in Manny Ramirez. ***Colletti quipped: “That’s good. I wouldn’t like to see a guy out of work.”***
“Al doesn’t think before he posts SOS.
He just posts the first thing that comes in his head.”
I just think it stinks that we gave this guy 7 years 160 and he still needs an opt-out. I doubt anyone would be willing to give him 23 million a few years from now. Its like giving someone the keys to a Ferrari and that person saying “If I don’t like it can I return it for a Lamborghini?”
More Joba in the bullpen whining? Ugh.
http://www.baseball-reference......7250.shtml
Never Forget
Good job Cash. Now go get Sheets!
Francesa: “I can’t remember the last time the Yankees paid so much more for a player that was available”.
I guess he was in a coma last year during the Arod negotiations.
He’s still hawking Joba in the ‘pen.
Good God, this guy is stupid.
———————————————————–
I haven’t listened to this clown in ages, but just decided to put it on.
First thing I hear is him saying the Yanks need to see the light and put Joba back in the pen.
Why people listen to his nonsense is beyond me.
Yes Pete, the ink is almost dry, but that hasnt slowed down Buster Olney’s attempt to give CC more second thoughts about his decision to come to NY. What a total loser. Guy just cant accept that he got scooped and that the Yankees just got a heck of a lot better.
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn.....ney_buster
CC was requiring an opt-out clause from everyone according to Melvin. It was not a Yankee/NY specific item.
Sabathia Wang Sheets Pettitte Joba/Hughes
Make it happen Casman.
I want to join in on the Francesca fun. Do you all list online or do you actually have physical radios? Help!
cashman is so money.
I actually think that the 3 year opt-out is good because that may be the time that his arm is ready to fall off. We can use him without worrying, as an ace should be used. If his arm is fine and he wants to re-sign with us (after a couple of WS Trophies hopefully) then the Yanks can certainly afford it. If not… we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it. It’s the best of both worlds. Teams are afraid to go long on pitcher’s contracts according to everything we read so look at this way… this protects us.
Francessa is a little more reasonable today… not yelling and screaming like he did yesterday.
My Sommer Frieze has all the information and I gather it first hand too!
I love this signing.
The contract is perfect for Sabathia because of the opt-out clause. Oh, and the potential $160 million.
If C.C. goes to NY and struggles, and the frenzy begins, he can leave after three years.
Count me in as someone who likes the idea of getting one of MLB’s best pitchers for at least three years while he is in his prime.
This was a very important signing for the Yanks. They had to do what was necessary to get it done.
You can listen online Frits.
Just hide any sharp objects first in case you decide to try and rip your eardrums out.
THANK GOD! Now get 1 more starter and we are in business. It is like Christmas comes early.
And to those whining about the opt-out, if he does opt out in 3 years, who cares? The important thing is next year. Hopefully some of these young arms pan out and starting pitching will not be the issue it is now.
Francesca states “The yankees almost doubled the next closest offer”…let’s see mike 5 years 100mil = 20 per vs 7 years 160mil= 22.9, that’s double?
CC
Wang
Lowe
Petitte
Joba
Joba will be on about a 150 innings limit. With Joba has the #5, it allows them to piggyback Joba with the pen on occasion because CC the Innings Eater is up next in the rotation.
I’d be surprised if the above was not the Yanks’ rotation in ’09. Only exception could be Perez or someone < 10 mil per instead of Petitte.
JC Bradbury is an economist who runs an interesting blog about baseball.
Brandbury estimated CC’s value for a club signing him at $26M/yr on a 7 year deal.
In general, each additional win for the yankees can be valued at $5.5M. CC projects to be a 5.5 win player next season. On this basis CC is worth $30M to the yankees next season.
CC signed for a lot of money. But the yankees didn’t overpay for him given what they can expect to derive from CC’s services in terms of revenue.
http://www.sabernomics.com/sab.....ing-on-cc/
unfortunately, it looks like opt-out clauses are going to be the norm for any high-profile free agent from here on out.
Thank you Texas Rangers.
“Francesca states “The yankees almost doubled the next closest offer”…let’s see mike 5 years 100mil = 20 per vs 7 years 160mil= 22.9, that’s double?”
STOP. You’re getting too complicated for him. Boomer and Carton didn’t seem to get it this morning either.
“wow, way to bid against yourself, yankees. start at 140, have no one else outbid you, then RAISE the offer to 160?? what is the reasoning here?”
I’m curious to know, were you there with CC’s agent while he was fielding offers from other teams?
I find it hilarious how people are really complaining about this deal.
He essentially got the same money as Johan for one additional year. Boo-freakin-hoo. Some of you just want to whine and complain about something and by golly you’ve found a reason to whine and complain.
There is no way CC was coming to the Bx. unless he got a deal comparable to the one Johan got a year ago. Is that really so hard to understand?
So what there’s an opt out clause. The Yankees have a plethora of young starters in the minors and in 3 years some other big ticket pitcher will undoubtedly come on the market that they Yankee can bid on if CC does indeed opt out.
What’s not to like? The Yankees get a young, left-handed Ace, who’s a workhorse and all it cost them was money. It’s not my money, what do I care how much it costs?
the 3 year opt out gives the West Coast teams an opportunity to clear salary and make a run for CC in three years. So hopefully he’ll like it here…
Will anyone be surprised to hear in a few days that the other rumored offers CC had weren’t just rumors and he actually did have at least one other offer at least close to the Yankee offer on the table? Be it 120 from a WC team, possibly a little more from the Red Sox (even if just to make us go higher)?
I wouldn’t.
The opt out clause doesn’t bother me. If he does STINK it up for three years, Yankee fans will boo him out of town. I think C.C. will like NY, heck Moose liked NY and he doesn’t seem like a NY kind of guy. I don’t think C.C will pull an A-Rod and opt out of the rest of the deal. If he does so be it, we can get a younger pitcher and hopefully Hughes or Joba becomes the ace.
It appears that the Mets are hot on the trail of slugging left fielder, Juan Pierre.
i’m not sure what to post, except that i’m happy about the deal. i had dreams about CC last night, literally.
i’ve had various game show songs (the ones they play when someone wins) in the back of my head all morning. right now it’s on the 100,000 pyramid…
i was iffy when first reading about the opt-out (player-option)
but if it was a requirement for any team, then how can you argue it. a lot of the farm should be ready in 3 years anyway. my only fear is that he’ll underperform (unlikely) and take the remaining 4 years.
Now they need to go get Sheets and Penny to fill one pitching slot. Expect them to pitch a half a year each.
Wang
C.C.
Sheets first half Penny second
Joba
??
Welcome, CC. We’re gonna put up some new flags together.
One thing, though, that I don’t understand is the fascination with Lowe. Anything beyond two years seems like money down the drain. People think Burnett is a risk becuase he’s been injured in the past. Well, age is more predictive of decline than past injury.
I say go for Tex and make nice with Andy. That’ll do it. If no Tex, much prefer Burnett or Sheets to Lowe.
And yes- Punto. A real utility guy who can field three positions well. Love it.
Joe D,
CC can opt out…The Yankees cannot.
The opt out is of little concern IMO. Worst case we get CC in his prime years, 28-31, when we need him most. In 3 years time, the Yankees should/could have the likes of Hughes, Joba, Kennedy, Betances, Herredia, Brackman, Kontos, Garcia, McAlister, etc. in the rotation, or ready for it. We know that for the next 3 years, we’ll have, at worst, a 1-2 punch of CC & Wang. That’s absolutely terrific!
Nice pic of CC above. The pinstripes are very slimming!
Yesssss! When’s his first start @ Fenway? Let’s get it going right now!
I’m not a big fan of the opt out, there’s no way it helps the Yankees or gives them more flexibility as some suggest. I can also see why some critics are complaining about the $40-50 million gap between the Yankees’ offer and the next closest.
All that said, Sabathia is worth it. New York wasn’t his first choice so the Yankees HAD to overpay. This guy is a legit ace, he’s one of the top pitchers in the league and he’s in his prime. These kind of guys don’t hit the market very often. When was the last time the Yankees had a pitcher of Sabathia’s skill under 30 yrs old?? I can’t remember.
The opt out sucks, there’s no way around that. If Sabathia plays up to his contract or better he will opt out. If he gets hurt or underperforms, we are stuck with him. Either way its good for CC and bad for the Yankees. That being said, 3 years of Sabathia is better than 0 years of Sabathia. It will also give the organization time to develop some #1 SP’s of their own. Also, who knows, maybe after 3 years he’ll love NY and stay with the Yanks.
Why does this clown even take callers?
As soon as anyone starts talking he talks over them.
Patrick,
I’m not a fan of the opt out at all either. I agree with you – there’s little advantage to the yankees.
That said it’s likely that including the opt out was part of the price that needed to be paid.
If CC was demanding it from everyone – then the yanks were no different and that’s just how things are. When a player has as much leverage as CC he dictates terms.
The only “advantage” to the yankees in the clause has to do with the opportunity it provides them – which is the opportunity to sign him in the first place. It was part of the price of the freight so to speak.
That’s the only “plus” of the opt out – it allowed them to sign CC. That’s the important thing. There’s no long term benefit but you can argue that there was considerable short term benefit if it was a must have for CC.
Just forget it. It is what it is.
They desperately needed CC. There was no way to substitute for him given the current composition of the team. He has immense value to the yankees.
I agree with Joe D. These long-term, high money contracts beg for opt-out clauses. Yes, it is HIS choice, but if he hasn’t performed well, isn’t happy, and is getting ripped by the fans and media then he can choose to go away, which ends up saving the Yanks 4 years and nearly 100 million. Or maybe we get 3 great years of him and then he decides to leave. Oh well…In any case, I’m glad we got our man. Good job by Cashman and the FO for ponying up when it counts.
Bottom line, CC is a Yankee for at least his age 29-31 seasons.
Deal with it.
Francessa doesnt want Joba into the the pen…..he wants “Jabber” in the pen.
Frits…… http://www.wfan.com …..click on listen live.
Its about time Pete, I was wondering why we had no post on this story haha.
How do these sort of stories break in one paper and not the next? Does Cashman spread them around and today was Sherman’s lucky day to get the text?
What nick names can we come up for C.C.?
baby Ruth
Big Bomber
baby huey
ACE
Big Baller
The Cashman’s Holiday List:
Ace (check)
High risk/reward short term contract (Sheets)
Reliable above average innings eater (Pettitte)
Trade for a reliable left handed three hole hitter (Votto)
Address the bench
X-Box, lingerie, and godiva
“I find it hilarious how people are really complaining about this deal.”
I could not agree more. Are you worried about your 2012 Yankees or your 2009?
yet again, Cashman gets us fans the best available FA, and some complain about an opt out. I bet if you won the lottery you’d complain about getting paid in $20′s.
If in three years, the Hughes, Brackmans, McAlisters of the world work out, he can leave and it won’t hurt the team.
It’s a great day to be a Yankee fan, please enjoy it.
Slu… I didn’t make it clear after reviewing my post but I was proceeding from the assumption that he would opt-out, even to stay in NY, a la A-Rod but you’re right. If his arm starts to fall off in the third year, he wouldn’t opt-out then we’d be on the hook for the money. Still a good deal based on the past.
I dont see how the opt out can be of any advantage to the yanks.. If CC does well and is still a no.1 pitcher he will opt out for more money and west coast.. If he doesnt do well, then he will remain a yankee and collect the 160 million that he is owed.. So eventually for the yanks, if he is excellent they will lose him after 3 years.. If he is good or just average, the yanks are stuck with him..
-Those who wrote or said yesterday that the Sabathia was backing away from the Yankees or that the Yankees should look elsewhere for pitching are running for cover now or pretending they never reported it in the first place.-
They had to up their offer to a ridiculous 160 to get him. He didn’t want to pitch for the yankees, so they had to bid against themselves. You’re an idiot. Go eat at a buffet. You know you’re hungry.
That image is a candidate for photoshopdisasters…
Nice Photoshop of CC, but the cap needs to be turned just a tad….
isn’t photoshop the best? he actually looks really good as a yankee
AWESOME NEWS!!!!!!
Some interesting insight into the Sabathia negotiations just posted by Joel Sherman of the NY Post.
What I find interesting is that CC wanted to know hoe A-Rod and Jeter got along!
Here’s the link:
http://www.nypost.com/seven/12.....143549.htm
Buster (Last Night of the Yankee Dynasty) Olney is having a dump in his pants, as is Gordon (I used to write for the Globe, now I do something else) Edes.
$$$$ to spend without lux tax hit–check.
Farm System stocked with excellent youth–check.
Best player of all time on your team–check.
Two more starters out of the Burnett, Sheets, Lowe, and Pettitte and it’s off to the races.
Horrible contract money wise. And they gave him an opt out too.
I got a good question, when does Barry Zito come off the books for SF? Is it in 3-years? Hmmmmmm………