CC Sabathia Contract: 5 Reasons New York Yankees Will Regret Ridiculous Deal

The New York Yankees have become well known for shelling out money like it's a game of Monopoly.

The only problem is, if you keep buying Boardwalk, it makes it hard to field a complete baseball team.

That's what the Yankees have essentially done by agreeing to pay ace CC Sabathia $122 million over the next five years, plus a vesting option for the sixth year that could bring the pot to $147 million.

But it's not just the money that makes such a contract ridiculous.

Here are five reasons why the Yankees will regret breaking the bank for the left-hander.

5. CBA

There's currently an impasse between Major League Baseball and the players' union, which would fall in line with the pattern of every major sport.

That's why a lot of teams are hesitant about throwing money around at the moment, because they don't know what the new collective bargaining agreement is going to look like.

The Yankees really have no idea what the next CBA is going to look like, how their spending will be limited, or what the landscape will look like down the line.

Yet they cough up $122 million.

I don't care if you are the Yankees and have loads of money.

That's just plain stupid.

4. Limits Spending on Other Players

Even if you're the New York Yankees, money doesn't grow on trees.

There's only so much money a team can cough up, and when you throw $122 million at one player, you're undoubtedly going to have to patch up some other areas (like the rest of the starting rotation, for example).

We are constantly reminded that the most wealthy teams aren't necessarily the most successful, as the San Francisco Giants and St. Louis Cardinals have proven the last two years.

Most world champions win with a complete team—with contributions in every area.

You put so much stock in one player and you're bound for disappointment.

Just look at the Yankees' rivals, the Boston Red Sox. One Adrian Gonzalez plus one Carl Crawford equals no playoffs.

3. Phil Hughes

As it stands now, the Yankees have a starting rotation of Sabathia, Ivan Nova, AJ Burnett and Phil Hughes.

Nova appears to be a solid young pitcher. Hughes does not.

Let's just say the 2004 first-rounder hasn't lived up to the hype. Last season, Hughes posted a 5.79 ERA and a 1.49 WHIP, and was eventually relegated to the bullpen.

By signing Sabathia to such a lucrative deal, you basically assure that you won't go after top free-agent starting pitchers C.J. Wilson, Roy Oswalt and Japanese phenom Yu Darvish.

That means you are left finding scraps for your fifth starter, not to mention being stuck with Hughes (unless another minor leaguer impresses or you work out a trade).

The Yankees were able to combine Freddy Garcia and Bartolo Colon last season, but let's be honest, that could have easily blown up in their face, too.

Lightning doesn't strike twice in the same place (i.e. New York).

2. Age

It's not just Sabathia's age, who is now 31 years old.

You also have to take into account his body weight and how much longer he can hold up on the mound.

Yes, he had a great season last year, but sooner or later he's inevitably going to break down—and I'm guessing it's going to be before five years is up.

Coughing up $122 million over five years is ludicrous enough; when you factor in the fact that Sabathia may not even last five years, you're actually really paying for three or four.

1. Shoulder and Knee Problems

CC Sabathia has had shoulder problems throughout his career, as well as a meniscus tear in his right knee.

The ironic part about his new deal is the sixth-year option is based on his shoulder staying healthy.

The option only becomes guaranteed if Sabathia does not finish the 2016 season on the disabled list because of a left-shoulder injury, does not spend more than 45 days of 2016 on the DL with a left shoulder injury, or does not make six or more relief appearances in 2016 because of shoulder problems.

By the way, Sabathia throws with his left arm.

The Yankees know the concerns associated with signing Sabathia to such a big contract, and they actually outlined them in the contract itself.

That's like knowing the storm of the century is coming your way and deciding to walk toward it.