Yankees Could Have Their Man in Sabathia

Nearly a month after a very lucrative contract was put on the table, it appears that the New York Yankees have their man.

According to MLB.com, CC Sabathia has agreed to sign with the Yankees for the 2009 season.

Buster Olney of ESPN is reporting that the contract is for $160 million for seven years. However, the New York Post has indicated that Sabathia has accepted the Yankees' original offer, which was presented back in early November— $140 million for six.

Apparently, the extra meetings conducted between GM Brian Cashman and Sabathia may have been what eventually pushed CC to sign with New York, including one on Sunday in which special adviser and Yankee great Reggie Jackson was present.

Either way, this is a very good move. All Yankee fans should be ecstatic at this moment. Signing Sabathia would mark the first time in a long time that New York has had a legitimate ace under 30 years old.

Sabathia's combined stats between the Indians and Brewers last season included a 17-10 record with 251 strikeouts and a 2.74 ERA.

With Sabathia appearing to be ready for pinstripes, the 2009 season immediately looks brighter for the Bronx Bombers.

In other news:

New York is still said to be going hard after free agent pitchers A.J. Burnett and Derek Lowe.

It has been rumored that the Yankees have offered Burnett a contract that outbids the one offered by the Braves ($60 million for four years) by a few million dollars.

There is also a possibility of the Yankees offering Burnett a fifth year on the contract.

This, in my opinion, would be way to many years to commit to a guy who has been injury prone for his whole career.

Lowe on the other hand may be a bad idea all together. While he saw a fairly good amount of success pitching with the L.A. Dodgers for the past four seasons, the Yankee brass should take a look at the stats from the last time Lowe pitched for a team in the American League East (a 5.42 ERA with 105 strikeouts with the Red Sox back in 2004).

I would honestly be happier if the Yankees continued to pursue starting pitcher Ben Sheets. Rumors yesterday revealed that the Yankees have considered offering Sheets a contract somewhere around $30 million for two years.

This would be far less risky, as Sheets has had a history littered with injuries.