Contract talks between the Indians and 2007 Cy Young winner C.C. Sabathia had been tabled until after the season at the request of Sabathia and his team of agents.
I doubt I have to explain the announcement may as well have said Sabathia will be going elsewhere after this season.
Realistically, the Tribe would probably have to fork over about $130 million on a six-year contract. Surely, you must be kidding. If you think Larry Dolan is going to cough up that kind of cash, I've got some land I want to sell you.
There was talk of a potential "hometown discount,” but I don't think Sabathia is that loyal. He always claimed to be his team's biggest fan, and indeed for a time it appeared he was. In his endearing crooked cap, he was the first to shout encouragement to his teammates from the dugout steps, and the last to sit down and accept defeat.
But a Cy Young can do funny things to a pitcher. Tabling trade talks for the season like he did is a pretty good indicator that whatever loyalty he had is now for sale. To borrow a sentiment from Dwight from The Office, C.C. is "going wherever they value loyalty the most."
Not to mention, what's the hometown discount on $130 million anyway? We can have him for $119 million? Hey, maybe we can use the leftover $11 million to buy Manny's option from the Red Sox for 2009. Perhaps a "former hometown discount" on the $20 million price of the option?
I'll be the first to admit whether Sabathia is being greedy and showing he has no allegiance to the Indians or not, if we had the cash, I would want to keep him. But we don't. And if we don't trade him before the season ends, we'll get nothing for him.
The Tribe has watched countless talented players walk since 1995 when they failed to trade them before they became eligible for free agency. In most cases, this was the right choice. However, in the present case of Cy Cy Sabathia, a different course of action must be taken.
I know the argument, and have struggled with it: If we trade him, will it impact our playoff run? Yes, it could hurt us down the stretch, but I think that's a chance we'll have to take. Carmona can step up and be the ace and I think our other starters, bolstered by productive offense, can pick up the slack after the trade deadline.
Sabathia was useless in the playoffs last year, so I'm comfortable saying that his presence in this year's playoffs won't be relevant.
Of course it all will depend somewhat on how the AL Central race shapes up. If we're way ahead or way behind, making the trade is a no-brainer. If we're in a tight race, as I suspect we will be, things are much stickier.
If we trade him and take the Central, it’s a shrewd move. If we don't win the division, regardless of whether it really was because we traded Sabathia, it will be a PR disaster.
Hindsight is always 20/20, and hell hath no fury like Cleveland fans looking for a scapegoat. Mark Shapiro will need bars on his windows and a really, really big bodyguard.
Trading Sabathia might be a terrible mistake, but we have to take the chance. You have to assume there is no way we'll resign him after the season.
I don't think Sabathia has proven he is worth the money anyway.
First, I'm of the opinion that giving any pitcher a six-year contract is absurdly stupid. Especially a pitcher who is clearly not in peak physical condition. Second, I don't think he's a good enough investment anyway. Yes, he won the Cy Young. But he was abysmal in the playoffs. And until this season, he was inconsistent and unreliable, at times brilliant and at other times embarrassingly inept.
He had control problems, was easily rattled, and had appeared at times to be tipping his pitches. The control problems and nerves came back in the playoffs. There is no denying he's a great pitcher, but I wouldn't throw that kind of money at a guy who has exactly one season of excellence under his belt.
Some theories suggest that the Santana contract set the bar and sealed our fate, but I don't think Sabathia is on Santana's level, and I wouldn't have given Santana the deal he got either. My money says in three years, the Mets will be paying him to sit on an exercise bike with his elbow in an ice bucket. Further, I don't think Santana's contract was any sort of shocker that changed the complexion of the market for starting left-handed pitchers. It was pretty much what was expected.
There was no mystery involved. Surely the Tribe front office, Sabathia, and his agents were well aware of what Santana would likely get, just like they were well aware of what Sabathia would command. I don't think the terms of the contract changed after Santana signed one iota.
Bottom line: Sabathia is a great pitcher with a lot of good years left and I'd love to see him remain an Indian. I just don't think this is possible.
For once, let's not stick our heads in the sand and pray Sabathia will call and say he wants to play for free.
So dry the tears, find a fifth starter, and make the trade. Trust me, if it somehow ends up costing us a World Series, those who don't agree with me can find solace in the fact that I'll be the first one to throw myself off a bridge.
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7 months ago
I think you are mistaken.
CC Sabathia doesn't want 6 years.. The Indians would never consider it either.
In reality the Tribe was offering him a 3 year extension(the 4th was actually restructuring his deal this year).
Is it too much to ask to give the guy four years after this one?
I don't think so.
As for trading him. That is just a flat out boneheaded move. It's absurd to suggest his playoff woes will continue just because he had a bad year last time around.
What are you honestly going to get that will help this team this year? The rosters are pretty much set. You aren't gonna find a team that is going to get you a big time left fielder and a solid pitcher for the rotation.
Keeping CC and letting him walk is a much smarter move than trading him now, pissing off your entire fan base, and continuing in this circle that you do with prospects that will EVENTUALLY make it to the big leagues.
I respectfully disagree with your assessment on trading him, but great effort none the less. Go Tribe
6 months ago
I am for trading CC. I am a big Tribe fan but to let him walk away for draft picks is absurd.
If he wanted to sign with the Tribe he would have made them an offer and said this is what it will take. He hasn't and he won't. Nobody can blame him for exploring free agency. He's one injury from being out of baseball and once he signs a multi year deal I think he'll be in worse athletic shape than he is now.
Looking at what Boston and the Yankees were offering for Santana gives the Tribe a good look at what they could expect in return.
The Dodgers, Red Sox and Yankees would all be willing to swing a trade for him.
We have starting pitching depth and could handle losing him if he brought in a power bat at 3b or LF. If the Tribe looks like they are going nowhere at the All Star Break they have to trade him.
Nice article and well thought out.
6 months ago
I agree - I'd miss having the Big Guy around, but I think there's no way we'll be able to sign him and we could use a big bat at 3rd or LF. Plus if he goes to NY or Boston, based on past performance I'd say we don't need to worry too much about facing him in the playoffs.
5 months ago
Trading CC is an awful idea. He is an ace, he is a Cy Young winner and he is left handed and has a heartbeat. The Indians could never get equal value for Sabathia. How do you replace a Cy Young winner? Sowers or Laffey are the 5th starter and everyone moves up? Now that Westbrook is on the DL and the fact that CC struck out 11 in 6 innings he might get better. if he turns it around the whole team will. If you trade him now that sends a message that your not trying to win this season. That isnt the case. Maybe July and if the indians are more than 10 games out then yes maybe try and get something for him (they wont be far back at all). If the Indians want a ring this season then Sabathia needs to be an Indian all season.
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