ESPN550.com
After all of the talk about CC Sabathia wishing to remain in the National League and staying close to his West Coast home, it came down as it almost invariably does – in both business and sports -- to money.
I don't say that as a criticism or any sort of indictment. It was just proof positive, once again, that money talks and just about everything else walks.
The most prized pitcher in this year's free agent class is going to end up in pinstripes. To put it simply, the Yankees made Sabathia an offer he couldn't refuse.
After initially offering him a six-year, $140 million deal, the Yankees sealed the deal by adding another year and bumping the value of the contract to $161 million – by far the biggest contract for a pitcher in baseball history. And the contract allows Sabathia to opt out of the deal after three years.
Those numbers dwarf the six-year, $137 million package the New York Mets gave another talented lefty, Johan Santana, last off-season.
So much for returning to Milwaukee. So much for San Francisco's late bid to lure CC back to his Bay Area roots. And so much for general manager Ned Colletti's comments about Sabathia telling him over the weekend about his desire to play for the Dodgers.
The Yanks aren't through with their off-season free-agent shopping spree. They also are expected to make serious bids for the likes of AJ Burnett and Ben Sheets in addition to making a one-year, $10 million offer to retain Andy Pettitte.
Burnett reportedly has been offered a five-year, $85 million by the Yankees, who also are rumored to be on the verge of offering Sheets a one- or two-year deal. And did we mentioning that New York has made a one-year, $10 million to retain Andy Pettitte?
Can a team buy a World Series title? The Yankees have done it before and, quite obviously, they're seeking to do it again.
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