SI Report: Sabathia Opting Out

He's walking away from an average of $23 million a year for the next four years. The Cubs are so interested the article mentions them twice:

"The Yankees have already made a new contract offer to Sabathia and remain the favorites to keep him, although the Cubs, Rangers, Tigers, Blue Jays and Cubs are also considered possibilities. The Yanks' offer was made over the weekend, but no details have been announced."

7 months ago BeerCub 16 comments 0 recs |

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Heh

Maybe that’s a different Cubs team the second time.

I’m pretty sure he’s staying in New York.

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by Al Yellon on Oct 31, 2011 7:39 AM CDT reply actions

I wouldn't be too sure....

… People were also sure he wouldn’t opt out. I pointed out a few weeks ago this could happen and was met with some harsh skepticism. The left side of his infield is definitely in decline, and outside of Cano, Granderson and maybe, maybe, Teixeira, who I think has peaked, where’s the potential for growth on that team?

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by BeerCub on Oct 31, 2011 7:54 AM CDT up reply actions

And before anyone mentions Montero...

…. I’d reply that Sabathia likely isn’t going to bet these next few years on players like that, especially when coupled with the senior citizens they’re going to be stuck with.

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by BeerCub on Oct 31, 2011 7:56 AM CDT up reply actions

I was pretty sure he'd opt out.

Who can afford him, anyway, besides the Yankees?

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by Al Yellon on Oct 31, 2011 8:04 AM CDT up reply actions

Cubs could but won't. Rangers could but probably won't.

But never underestimate the power of the rivalry…

I expect the Red Sox to drive the price up, especially if they’re not going to be in the Darvish hunt. And if they really drive the price up, this could turn into a most interesting game of chicken. Wouldn’t surprise me if Cashman & ownership already had a dollar limit set and if the bid(s) exceeds that, the Yanks walk away.

Dark horse? Nationals.

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by ballhawk on Oct 31, 2011 8:13 AM CDT up reply actions

If you drive a sedan, never play chicken with cement truck

The Yankees are already in for $23M and Sabathia is the highest paid pitcher. If the Red Sox were to offer him, say $27M, I’d say it might be a good move for the Yankees to let him walk. On top of the salary, the Red Sox would have to add the luxury tax. The move could bury them.

I just can’t see anyone outbid the Yankees. If Sabathia leaves, it’s because he wants out of NY.

by jerry morales rules on Oct 31, 2011 9:13 AM CDT up reply actions

I'd be shocked if he left NY, but

Maybe there’s a bit of “Cliff Lee” going on. Maybe he wants out of NY and he’d be happy to accept less somewhere else. I think that is the only way that he leaves NY as the Yankees will offer more him than anyone else will. They already have $23M budgeted for him.

by jerry morales rules on Oct 31, 2011 9:07 AM CDT up reply actions

I had been hearing for awhile that he would opt out.

I suspect he resigns with the Yankees. The Rangers might be the only place that would have serious interest but I don’t think they go overboard.

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by rlpete on Oct 31, 2011 8:48 AM CDT up reply actions

He is not going anywhere.

Yanks rotation without CC? Not happening. The Yanks will be eating contract money on him like they will with A-Rod. They will over pay and add to many years.

by Grockcubs on Oct 31, 2011 8:13 AM CDT reply actions

No thank you.

4 years x $23mm per year (i.e., his existing deal) sounds about right for a guy like him. He has had 3 very good, but not exceptional, seasons since going to the Yankees. While he’s their best pitcher and would be the best FA pitcher on the open market, you’ve got to consider at least the following as reasons not to go beyond 4 years or to significantly exceed $23mm per year:

Next year he’ll be 31. So his current deal already covers him through age 34, and the additional years he’s seeking will be 35 (2016), 36 (2017), 37 (2018), etc.

He already has 2,300+ innings on his arm, including > 230 innings per year every year since 2007. While that’s great for the teams that had him those years and suggests good things potentially for whoever has him in 2012 or 2013, you have to wonder what that arm is going to feel like if he adds another 1,000 innings over the course of the next four years. The prospect of a 35 year old pitcher with 3,300 innings in his rearview mirror, set to make $25 mm a year for multiple additional years is frightening.

His weight. He’s pitched well with it so far, but he’s also been in his 20’s where that sort of thing should be easier to control and yet if anything it looks like he’s getting heavier in recent years. What do you think will happen to his weight when he pushes into his 30’s, and when he no longer even arguably has a new contract to pitch for?

The Yankees should offer him a little extra dough to stay, and maybe one additional year. But here’s hoping we don’t go down that road.

by Orval Overall on Oct 31, 2011 8:27 AM CDT reply actions

make no bones about it

he’s been exceptional. 3 years, 18.7 WAR, 3.18 ERA in a bandbox in the AL EAST

doesnt mean we should pursue him. I personally don’t think we should because its a high risk investment for a team this far away from contention to invest a 20+ million over 6-7 years for a fairly volatile position like a SP

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by DartmouthCubsFan on Oct 31, 2011 8:39 AM CDT up reply actions

I'd be shocked if he left NY

It’s just a technicality to allow him to sign a bigger contract.

I don’t see him being available to the Cubs.

by SouthernCub on Oct 31, 2011 11:41 AM CDT reply actions

You have to be a real piece of work to walk away from $92 Million guaranteed.

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by bluemagic9 on Oct 31, 2011 11:44 AM CDT reply actions

Meh

He’s just playing hardball. He sees an opportunity to make more and, through the course of negotiation, the Yankees agreed to allow him this opportunity.

Sabathia is just playing by the rules that he and the Yankees agreed to..

by jerry morales rules on Oct 31, 2011 12:03 PM CDT up reply actions

I hope he gets less money

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by Hammer on Oct 31, 2011 3:49 PM CDT reply actions

Cubs should just offer a crap deal. Something most people will decline.

Say 75MM/5yrs and just say “Help be a part of history and be enshrined at Wrigley if we win it all.”

I’m 99.99% sure he’ll just refuse it, but maybe he might be the .01% to want to go down in history as someone that help ended the drought. It would almost punch a ticket to the HoF alone.

by ubercubsfan on Oct 31, 2011 5:05 PM CDT reply actions