CC Sabathia a Fit for the Texas Rangers If He Opts Out?

CC Sabathia has done great things in his time with the New York Yankees. He's won 59 games in three seasons in pinstripes, and of course was a key player in the Yankees' run to their 27th championship back in 2009.

But right now, the fear is that Sabathia will pull an Alex Rodriguez by opting out of his contract in an effort to get a more lucrative deal. If Sabathia is as lucky as A-Rod, that more lucrative contract will come from the Yankees.

Or it could come from some other team—namely the Texas Rangers.

Apparently, this is not mere speculation. Wallace Matthews of ESPNNewYork.com has it on good authority that the Rangers are prepared to pursue Sabathia if he opts out of his current deal with the Yankees and becomes a free agent.

"I hear they're going to throw a boatload of money at him,'' said an anonymous source. "But I think he'll stay with the Yankees. He's talked so much about how much he loves New York, and besides, the Yankees can't afford to lose him from that pitching staff.''

Obviously, that will depend on Sabathia's asking price, and whether or not the Rangers are willing to match it. If they are, then it would be a matter of the Yankees offering a sweeter deal.

Which the Yankees can do, of course. Either way, we are talking about an utterly absurd amount of money.

To give you an idea, the deal Sabathia signed with the Yankees before the 2009 season was for seven years and $161 million, an average of $23 million per season. In 2011, Sabathia's contract paid him over $24 million.

As such, we're talking about a new deal worth at least $25 million a year. To put that in perspective, the Rangers' payroll was barely over $91 million this season.

Personally, I'm willing to believe that the Rangers have the cash to sign Sabathia. Signing him will certainly mean the end of C.J. Wilson's tenure in Texas, but the Rangers must think Sabathia is the better option, even if he is far more expensive.

Regardless, that the Rangers are apparently interested is music to Sabathia's ears. He now has every excuse to opt out and start a true bidding war, which is something he didn't really have after leaving the Milwaukee Brewers in 2008. He essentially made the Yankees bid against themselves.

Or this could just be the Rangers trying to make Sabathia opt out so he can drive up his price and make less room for Wilson on the Yankees' payroll.

If so, I fear they may be underestimating how deep the Yankees' pockets are. If they want Sabathia and Wilson, then they will get Sabathia and Wilson.

We shall see. Hot stove season will be here in no time.