CC Sabathia Re-Signs with Yankees: Tracking Every Pitcher Contract over $90M

The Yankees signed starter CC Sabathia to one of the largest contracts in baseball history on Monday.

Sabathia is guaranteed five years and $122 million, and the contract could even reach as high as six years and $142 million.

Sabathia has been one of the most dominant pitchers in baseball for the past 10 seasons, but history suggests that this move isn't going to work out the way the Yankees have intended.

Let's take a look at the biggest pitcher contracts in baseball history.

Carlos Zambrano 5 Years/$91.5 Million

Zambrano had just finished a three-year stretch with a record of 48-26, and he looked to be an important cornerstone of the Cubs organization.

Things changed drastically after signing his five-year, $91.5 million contract before the 2008 season.

Zambrano had pitched with mixed results up until the 2011 season, when he was absolutely dreadful. But his off-the-field personality and clashes with teammates have made him a cancer to the Cubs organization.

Record During Contract

43-26, 1 All-Star Game, 0 World Series

Grade

D

Kevin Brown 7 Years/$105 Million

Kevin Brown was a four-time All-Star when he signed his seven-year, $105 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Brown had a great first season with the Dodgers, but failed to win 15 games for the rest of his career.

In fact, it took him three whole seasons plus part of a fourth to match his 18-win season in 1999.

Record During Contract

72-45, 2 All-Star Games, 0 World Series

Grade

C

Mike Hampton 8 Years/$121 Million

Hampton went 22-4 in 1999 for the Houston Astros, and he followed that up with a 15-10 season with the Mets.

The Rockies stepped up in the winter before the 2001 season and gave Hampton an eight-year, $121 million contract.

Hampton only spent two—very painful—seasons in Colorado before being traded to Atlanta.

He had some success in Atlanta, but nowhere near enough to justify the $121 million contract.

Record During Contract

56-52, 1 All-Star Game, 0 World Series

Grade

F

Barry Zito 7 Years/$126 Million

Zito started his career with an astonishing 47-17 record and helped to lead the A's to the postseason several times.

The Giants offered him a seven-year, $126 million contract before the 2007 season, and he hasn't eclipsed 11 wins since.

Zito still has two seasons remaining on his contract, but it's very doubtful that he can salvage the deal at this point.

Record During Contract

43-61, 0 All-Star Games, 0 World Series

Grade

Z (an F would be too high)

Johan Santana 6 Years/$137.5 Million

The Mets signed Johan Santana to a massive six-year, $137.5 million contract before the 2008 season. Santana responded by finishing third in the Cy Young voting in 2008 and winning 16 games.

He went 24-18 in 2009 and 2010 combined, but then missed the entire 2011 season because of a shoulder injury.

Record During Contract

40-25, 1 All-Star Game, 0 World Series

Grade

B.

The final grade will obviously be determined by how he finishes out the contract after the injury, but he's been very effective so far.