Let’s be clear: CC Sabathia didn’t say he's leaving the Yankees after 2011, when his opt-out clause comes into play.
While discussing his future recently, though, New York's ace didn't exactly deny he wouldn't bolt, either. The lefty said simply, and cryptically, "Anything's possible."
Should he opt to act on the out clause, Sabathia would lose $92 million over four years. (That's guaranteed money, folks.) But he could net an even bigger score than the $120 million Cliff Lee landed from the Phillies in December.
If Sabathia, 30, stays healthy and pitches like he has in his first two years wearing pinstripes, he would have serious leverage on the open market, thanks to his age (almost two years younger than Lee), his durability (especially minus 25 pounds after kicking his Cap'n Crunch habit) and the shaky status of the Yanks' rotation (so long, Andy Pettitte).
The biggest factor, though? Next year's free-agent class of starters is only marginally better and deeper than this winter's mediocre crop. You don't need an economics degree to grasp this concept: Low supply equals high demand. And if Sabathia leaves, the Yankees' pitching supply would be embarrassingly low, making him even more in demand than Lee was.
GM Brian Cashman would be forced to do everything in his power—and make good use of the Steinbrenners' checkbook—to ensure their No. 1 starter returns to the Bronx.
Aside from Sabathia, who—again, let's be clear—would easily be the top free agent target, here's a rundown of the hurlers who will be competing for the second-biggest contract next offseason.
- Login to post comments