Come To Think Of It...Trick Or Treat? Buyer Beware on Signing CC Sabathia

In looking at the list of baseball's potential free agents this year, there is little doubt that one name jumps off the page more than the others: CC Sabathia.

Well, I have two words for you: Caveat Emptor.

Yes, guys like Manny Ramirez will get plenty of press, and rightly so. But with starting pitching at such a premium in the majors these days, it has to be tempting for any team to at least check into the potential of signing an ace pitcher like Sabathia.

But wait—what will be the treat if one signs Sabathia? I know his regular season record is outstanding, at 117-73, with an ERA of 3.66.  He has pitched well in both leagues now.

And what he did as a member of the Milwaukee Brewers was simply otherworldly, going 11-2 with a 1.65 ERA.

But consider a couple of risky things about the man. First, his body is not exactly what you would call athletic, though he does move well on the diamond.  Look, there is no nice way to say this: the man is fat.

Next, he has pitched a lot of innings over the course of his young career.  He has averaged roughly 32 starts per year over the past eight seasons. And he usually goes deep into games.

Adding to the workload is the fact that the Brewers, desperate for a playoff spot, pitched CC on three days rest several times down the stretch. And he completed seven games for Milwaukee, despite not being acquired until early July.

So will he be damaged goods down the road? Remember, we're likely talking about a contract that could extend beyond five years and likely seven or eight. That's a huge commitment. He may be young, but he's pitched 1,658 innings.

By contrast, AJ Burnett, another potential free agent pitcher, has pitched only 1,376 innings despite being 31. I know, extenuating circumstances (injury), but still...

Another factor to consider is that the man simply hasn't pitched well in the playoffs. In five career starts in the post-season, Sabathia is 2-3 with a 7.92 ERA. He even gave up three runs in one inning of work at the 2004 All-Star game. So is this a man who doesn't like the bright lights?

Because if so, how can you justify paying him 20+ million dollars per season? You want your so-called ace pitcher to be your go-to guy in the playoffs.  But if you can't count on him to be that guy, then what do you really have?

Yet he is only 28 years old; a 2007 Cy Young award winner who also happens to pitch with his left hand, a valuable commodity to say the least.

And he can hit and field his position. And by all accounts, is a good clubhouse presence and a solid guy.

So, do you shell out the roughly seven year, $161 million dollars to Sabathia or do you look elsewhere? And if you do, are you getting Jekyll or Hyde?

If your local General Manager opens his door on Halloween and hears the inevitable "Trick or Treat?" from Sabathia's agent, what should he do? It's a much tougher decision than it appears on the surface.

I'd hate for there to be any buyer's remorse, come to think of it...