YankeesRedSox.com: CC Sabathia

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It wasn't the numbers that Sabathia put up when he went to Millwaukee, but the way he did it. Not only did he dominate, but he showed guts, demanding the ball on three-days rest multiple times to pitch his team into the playoffs. Whatever team lands him in 2009 will have a great pitcher at the front of their rotation.

The problem with Sabathia is the deal he is going to sign and the risks involved with it. Let's assume he gets a deal similar or slightly better than the extension Johan Santana signed with the Mets. That means six years and somewhere around $25 million a year. That is simply tremendous money for anyone and especially a pitcher. Sabathia has thrown over 600 innings the past two years and it is not a stretch to imagine his arm will wear out at some point during his upcoming deal.

So, does that mean it is too much of a risk to sign him? For almost any other team than the Yankees the answer would probably be yes. But, the Yankees are about to explode their revenues with a new ballpark and they are one of the few teams in the league (maybe the only one) that could put $25 million of their payroll into one player and not have to have a big contribution from him. (And don't forget about the deal the Yankees signed with the Dallas Cowboys yesterday, that is going to make a lot of money for the team) Signing him solves a lot of problems heading into 2009 and it only costs the Yankees draft picks. Think of this as a mulligan on the Santana move. New York needs to be the high bidder and they need to pull out all the stops to acquire him. Yes, he may spend most of 2011 or 2012 on the DL, but in 2009 Sabathia returns the Yankees to contention. I don't normally condone the buy the biggest name available approach, but in this case, get it done.

Comments

Peter - I missed the story on the deal with the cowboys you refer to, what is it?

Posted by: blmeanie | October 21, 2008 06:27 PM |

Peter, I'm sure that you are thinking exactly the way the owners are. We can get him w/out having to give up anything except money.

I think CC would get it done unless he wilts under the NY spotlight (he wouldn't be the first or the last to do that) - but 6 years would make me cringe.

Posted by: Mitchell | October 21, 2008 07:29 PM |

Mitchell the deal will make us all cringe, but the market has been set by Zito and Santana. I can't see Sabathia taking less.

BL- Here's a link to the story

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27285478/

Posted by: Peter | October 21, 2008 10:46 PM |

thanks, oink oink

Posted by: blmeanie | October 21, 2008 11:07 PM |

Peter, that article link gives no estimate on how much money this will make the Yankees. You said it would make them "a lot."

From what you've heard, how much?

Posted by: andy | October 22, 2008 09:00 AM |

Here's how concessions normally work. The vendor pays the "landlord" a percentage of the vendor's sales receipts - a percentage of the GROSS receipts, anywhere from 15% to 30%. If you become the vendor, you surely charge the same, but keep the percentage. Soooo, any profits the vendor was making after the payout are now retained along with the surcharge. Yep, there's the entire cost of creating and running a concessionaire biz, but ... that's the math.

Posted by: Mitchell | October 22, 2008 09:36 AM |

Andy- From what I have read, the old Yankee Stadium concessionaire made $71 million from running concessions. Now the Yankees will be 34% owners of the new entity so I would assume they would get around $25 million from New Yankee Stadium if concessions held the same plus they will get that % of concessions at the replacement for Texas Stadium (which will increase seating capacity to around 100,000) plus any other business deals the group manages to sign. I think it will be very significant money.

Posted by: Peter | October 22, 2008 10:39 AM |

Compare Sabathia's NL performance with his AL peformance. That, his weight, and his number of innings are all warning signs.

Still, if he would agree to a 5 year deal and a weight clause, why not do it? He's a power lefty with a good attitude.

Don't touch Sheets or Peavy given their health issues. That leaves Burnett, whose stuff is great but who has age and health issues.

Sabathia seems to be the best pick available.

Posted by: Corey | October 22, 2008 05:55 PM |

No one wants Derek Lowe?

Posted by: tim | October 22, 2008 11:51 PM |

Haven't gotten to him yet Tim, but I like the way you think....

Posted by: Peter | October 23, 2008 12:07 AM |