A Closer Look into CC Sabathia’s Record-Setting Deal

(Zell's Pinstripe Blog)

The Yankees are closing in on CC Sabathia. They have offered him a $161 million, seven-year contract, which is the biggest contract for a pitcher in the history of baseball. It will top Johan’s $137.5 million, six-year contract with the Mets.

The deal has not been finalized though. They need to sort through all the paperwork, and he needs to pass a physical.

Sabathia’s contract will also have an opt-out clause after three years and $69 million. So if he wants to, he can leave after the 2011 season and leave the rest of his contract ($92 million) on the table.

People have said that this is nuts. I don’t think so. Seven years might be long, but CC is only 28 years old. Seven years from now, he will be 35 years old.

Now, how many power pitchers have we seen succeed over the age of 35? I know there are many out there. It’s not like he will be a 40-year old pitcher by the end of his contract. Many pitchers in baseball are successful after the age of 35.

Yes, CC’s weight is somewhat of a concern, but you don’t really know if that will affect him. This was a must for the Yankees.

They needed a legit power pitcher/ace at the head of the rotation for a while now. They haven’t had a guy like this in the past 25 years. Not only does he go out there every five days, but he goes deep into games. The Yankees haven’t had guys recently that are capable of going eight innings or more.

Now the question is who they sign to fill in the rest of the rotation. Pettitte might be re-signed.

The rumor going around baseball now is that the Yanks are heavily pursuing Derek Lowe. A.J. Burnett and Ben Sheets are other options they will consider.

Girardi’s thoughts on CC:

“He’s been in the American League long enough to know what New York is about,” he said Tuesday. “And CC’s personality, I think, would work very well here. He’s a guy that wants the ball every fifth day. He’s a standup guy, he’s a very honest young man. So I think his personality will be great.”