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Wont matter who the yanks get. The sox have them cursed and will for quite some time. That means losing in the ALDS assuming they can break Joe Torre's curse first.
With no playoffs in 2008 and a new stadium opening in 2009, the New York Yankees are trying their hardest to make the three top free-agent starting pitchers extremely rich. But it takes two parties to finish a deal.
Imagine the horror in the Big Apple if the Yankees somehow struck out on CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett and Derek Lowe.
That would be the ultimate low blow to the Yankees' self-esteem and would leave manager Joe Girardi wondering how he's going to fill the 200 innings he got from Mike Mussina, who is retiring. It might force general manager Brian Cashman to stop trying to get Andy Pet te to take a pay cut. And it could happen.
It's easy to think of players as the ultimate mercenaries, but the highest offer doesn't guarantee a deal. Remember when the late Syd Thrift said he felt like he was offering "Confederate money" when free agents wouldn't come to Baltimore under any terms?
No one is suggesting the Yankees have slipped as badly as the Orioles under Peter Angelos, but it's not a slam dunk that they are going to be able to money-whip Sabathia, Burnett or Lowe.
The Yankees reportedly opened bidding with Sabathia at a record $140 million over six years, but it has become clear Sabathia wants to explore other options, especially any from his native California or in the National League (he loves to hit). The Los Angeles Angels, Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco Giants (Sabathia's hometown team) are expected to enter the bidding, making it even more unlikely he'll return to Milwaukee.
Source: Chicago Tribune
Related: Mike Mussina, Andy Pet te, Derek Lowe, A.J. Burnett, CC Sabathia, Los Angeles Angels, Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Yankees, San Francisco Giants
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/rumors/p...urn=mlb,125193
Wont matter who the yanks get. The sox have them cursed and will for quite some time. That means losing in the ALDS assuming they can break Joe Torre's curse first.
Horror for who? I think it would be pretty funny!
I think it's funny that CC doesn't want to go to New York. The media and their fans think that every player in MLB wants to come play for the Yankees...what are they going to say when CC says "thanks, but no thanks"
I don't know that it's so much CC not wanting to go to New York as much as it is CC wanting to be back in California and in the national league where he can hit. I think those two factors are priorities in CC's decision. I think it's a matter of him not being awed and overwhelmed that the Yankees want him, not necessarily him not wanting to go there. But, I could be wrong. A lot of players are like "OMG, the Yankees want me?!" CC knows he's good. And, he knows he's going to get paid wherever he goes. So, it's more of a matter with what other variables may come into play with his decision.
The Yankees should be able to get at least one of the top pitching free agents. You got to believe if they don't get CC, they'll get AJ Burnett or Lowe. It's not like they had a horrible record last year. With Chien Ming Wang back and one more decent starting pitcher, they'll be right in the mix for next year.
I think it's funny because when he wore a Yankees hat to a NBA game a couple years ago, people in New York just expected him to show up and play for the Yanks
If the Yankees miss out on the first tier guys, they may do a lot of teams some favors by eating some crap contracts or assuming some major risks. I could see them taking a guy like Marquis in trade if they became desperate enough.
My prediction: Sabathia and Lowe do not sign with New York. The Yankees end up bringing back Pe te and signing an albatross like Ben Sheets.
I think it's funny because when he wore a Yankees hat to a NBA game a couple years ago, people in New York just expected him to show up and play for the Yanks
Just heard on the news that Sabathia agreed with the yanks.
signing a big deal to pitch in New York is the kiss of death. Best of luck to him he is going to need it
CC better pitch 35-0 including the postseason or he will get booed out of NY
7 years 160
I heard it has a clause where CC can opt out of it after a year or 2
The Yankees will still suck this season. They still have for pitching and they have absolutely no chemistry what so ever.
at The Yankees throwing crazy money at CC. CC is good but he isnt that good. He will have his share of good and bad games this season. The Yanks will have a great o but the pitching will still suck. They are poised to finish 3rd in the division behind Tampa and boston
Sure seems that way, doesn't it?
Are you guys serious? Do you guys fail to remember that the Yankees number 1 pitcher, Chien Ming Wang, missed over half the season and the Yankees still only missed the playoffs by 6 games? Wang was 8-2 in 15 starts. If he just goes 7-7 in the other 18-20 starts he should have had, the Yankees are in the playoffs last year. The previous two seasons, Wang won 19 games each.
And, while CC might not be "that" good as it relates to how much they're paying him, he's still an improvement to the rotation. He's still a solid #1 guy and if you consider him the #2 guy after Wang, probably the best #2 pitcher in the AL.
As far as signing with the Yankees being the kiss of death, that's not completely true. Roger Clemens didn't have a perfect start to his Yankee career, but he still won two World Series rings and a Cy Young with the Yankees. And, Mike Mussina had a very good Yankee career, despite the ups and downs. It's not the easiest place to play, but it's not necessarily going to be the "kiss of death" for CC.
So far, I have been batting 0.000. I still don't think they get Lowe and Burnett as well, however. Assuming that's true, I would think Pe te actually ends up coming back, after all.
depends what the record of the starters that filled in for Wang was... if it was 7-7 it would not have mattered. it would have to be like 2-12 to matter.
Tell that to Santana he was pure money.
The Yankees are losing Mussina and presumably Pe te. Their aging position players all aged another year. Sabathia alone isn't getting them over the hump.
That's a good point. A lot of things would have chanced if Wang remained healthy. Darrell Rasner basically picked up Chien Ming Wang's starts, and he went 5-10 in 20 games. The team went 8-12 in his starts. So, in order to make up the difference, Wang would have had to still be pitching great and go something like 11-4 in the 20 starts he missed with the bullpen picking up another 3 of those bullpen losses.
Obviously, it would/could have also had a domino type effect on their bullpen if Wang were able to pitch long innings in his starts to save the bullpen for the next day's games. And, also, if Wang remained healthy, Rasner could have picked up the slack when Ian Kennedy and Phil Hughes were taken out of the rotation. Quite a few things could have and would have changed had Wang remained healthy.
Not Sabathia alone, but Sabathia with a healthy Chien Ming Wang and Joba Chamberlain knowing from spring training that he'll be a starting pitcher the entire year is a very good step forward. If they can convince Pet te to return at their price, they'll be sitting in a very good position even in the tough AL East.
And, not that you're speaking specifically in comparison to Boston, but I'll make this point anyway. Aren't the signs of decline evident in players like David Ortiz and Mike Lowell and Jason Varitek? And, even with some of the youth injected in the Red Sox line-up, that line-up is simply not as daunting as it was when Ortiz and Lowell were still unbelievable at the plate as well as Manny's bat being in the line-up.
A.J. Burnett might be joining CC
I wasn't thinking of Boston so much as Tampa. Your point is still VERY valid, however. IMHO, Vartiek is done. He has been declining behind the plate for three years, and now his hitting has gone in the tank. Also, removing Ramirez has really removed the "pucker factor."
What worries me about Sabathia is his conditioning, He's the kind of guy that may not be able to work/rehab his way back from a major injury. I honestly think the Yankees would be better of with Peavy and Lowe than Sabathia and Burnett, considering the cost-benefit analysis.
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