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Yanks' opening pitch to Sabathia is record-setting
by Joel Sherman, New York Post
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The Yanks skipped the appetizers and moved straight to the main course with Sabathia and offered the largest pitching package in history as an opening strike to land their No. 1 target.
Yankees co-chairman Hank Steinbrenner confirmed last night at the team's spring training complex in Tampa, Fla., that an offer was made to Sabathia and that proposals will be forthcoming for pitchers A.J. Burnett and Derek Lowe.
"Yes," Steinbrenner said when asked if an offer was made to Sabathia. "And we're prepared to make offers to Burnett and Lowe."
No Yankees official, including Steinbrenner, would firmly define the bid, but sources said it was for more than the $137.5 million over six years that the Mets gave last year to Johan Santana.
The Yanks made the proposal on the first day offers officially could be extended to outside free agents, and the plan was to make offers either yesterday or in the coming days to Lowe and Burnett. There is no subtlety here. The Yankees have targeted starting pitching and want to act boldly in the arena.
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The strongest message, though, clearly is being sent to Sabathia. As the Post reported Thursday, making a swift, overwhelming offer is designed to accomplish two things: 1. Assert in the strongest way just how serious they are about Sabathia's services. 2. With that approach, work to dissuade Sabathia of his desire to play on the West Coast and/or in the NL where he can hit.
The Yanks are not deluding themselves. They know there is a form of bribery going on here. They recognize all things being equal, Sabathia would prefer to be a Dodger, Angel or Giant. So they want to make sure that all things — notably the money — are not equal.
The expectation — despite some posturing — is that the Angels are front-runners to retain Mark Teixeira and the Dodgers to retain Manny Ramirez. That would work to the Yanks' great assistance because it almost certainly would eliminate either team from pursuing Sabathia, too. Even if the Angels and the Dodgers are in on Sabathia, it would seem unlikely either would go where the Yanks are willing to go financially to make a deal with the ace lefty.
So Sabathia probably would have to leave a substantial amount of money on the table to avoid The Bronx, and the Yanks are hoping that the differential will be just too great for Sabathia to reject.
Even while waiting for Sabathia's response, the Yanks also will begin a more serious courtship with Lowe and Burnett. Several sources say Lowe actually tops the Red Sox's wish list, and his familiarity with Boston (he played there from 1997-2004) probably gives the Red Sox an edge in what is expected to be a deep field that also will include the Mets.
The Yanks do not envision that they can sign Sabathia, Lowe and Burnett. Ideally, they see signing Sabathia and either Lowe or Burnett, and then convincing Pettitte to come back on a pretty significant pay cut from the $16 million he earned in 2008.
They currently anticipate that Mike Mussina will retire, but if he changes his mind, that could alter his plans.
Bart Hubbuch and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Member Comments
The thing that kills me is that everyone crys that there team isn't spending that kind of money well thats there problem we make and spend it i love it that is what makes the yanks so awesome.
ED886911/19/2008 9:36:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
Littlehk007 - tell that to the Marlins and Dbacks...two teams that beat the Yankees in the World Series. Go back to school and learn how how to spell before you start typing
russ_h11/17/2008 10:12:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
It look's like the Yankee's are trying to buy at championship not earn one again. MLB needs two sept in and stop them from over spending where other teams can't keep up.
Littlehk00711/17/2008 9:15:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
Chamberlain will be much more useful as a starter. Not only that, he wants to be a starter. He's far to talented to limit him to an 8th inning role or a closer. And Manny? Bad idea. He'd be a mess in the clubhouse (and more importantly a problem with the front office) and he's too old. The Yanks will do the right thing this offseason.
ACMilan2211/16/2008 19:48:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
The Yankees DON'T need Manny. They need pitching and a centerfielder. Manny can't pitch or play center. Let the Dodgers sign him.
Rooster92111/16/2008 12:42:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
I think the yankees should try and joba as your settup man so when mo retiers he will be ready.He has the make up if a closer.And manny will be a big plus he is a winner the best hitter in the clutch.After seeing the yankees make the playoffs the last few years and go down manny will take the pressuer off A- ROD.And there so many other resons to get manny.
Joeycapecod11/16/2008 7:19:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
I think if the Yankees add another young arm (or better yet, Igawa) to the deal TomGoldkuhle suggests that the Padres might just ship Peavy east. A couple million dollars to Peavy would probably make him agreeable. I really would rather see Chamberlain as the eighth inning man. He can dominate there and be groomed as Mariano's eventual replacement. If Mussina DOES retire, Chamberlain could be replaced in the proposed rotation by Phil Coke or one of the other kids who pitched a little last year. At least Rasner isn't going to be coming up from the minors in 2009. He didn't pitch terribly but he wanted to go to Japan and Cashman accomodated him. Good luck to him.<br /><br />Now Cashman has to find a real centerfielder. Melky wasn't the answer and Gardner isn't the answer either. At least Melky could hit an occasional home run. I just hope they try to bring Abreu back and possibly ship Matsui out in a trade. Perhaps putting Matsui and Duncan in a deal; maybe with a prospect, they could come up with a decent centerfielder. I'd like to see them try to deal for DeJesus, he seems to be a way above average centerfielder. Nady/DeJesus/Abreu would be a very good everyday outfield. While Damon is no longer a viable option in centerfield he could be one helluva fourth outfield/DH. If they CAN find a new home for Matsui and with Giambi gone; if Posada can really catch around 120 games as he expects, the possible DH logjam wouldn't be as big a problem.
Rooster92111/16/2008 7:10:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
c.c say's he likes to hit lets see if he puts his money where his mouth is ?
beachnomas11/16/2008 5:52:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
I would pass on both Lowe and Burnett. Lowe is too old and really more of a 3 or 4 pitcher. Maybe he makes sense for Boston. Burnett has had injury problems and his e.r.a. last year was 4.05, 1.65 or so against the Yanks, but much higher against everyone else. This kind of a 32 year old pitcher should not be given a 5 year deal. A far better choice would be to trade Hughes, Kennedy and Cabrera plus whatever for Peavy. Kennedy isn't mentally tough enough, Cabrera too stupid (he couldn't figure out why he was demoted after hitting .240 with no power) and with a poor work ethic, only Hughes has an upside and he was terrible this year.<br />The rotation would be:<br />Sabathia<br />Peavy <br />Wang<br />Chamberlain<br />Pettitte
TomGoldkuhle11/16/2008 5:03:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
Probably because it won't be for 6+ years. It'll also give the Red Sox a solid end of thr rotation type guy. Also would allow thier young pitching prospects to develope more until lowe's contract is up.
yankeesrule4ever11/15/2008 19:56:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
Lowe tops Boston's wish list? Why? He's a 35 year old with only 6 winning seasons out of 11 in his career. Please Red Sox, do not make the mistakes of the past by overpaying for old free agents that will do nothing for your team. Continue with your youth movement and it will pay off more in the future!
CMoebius11/15/2008 19:52:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
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