February 14, 2008
No, No for C.C.
C.C. Sabathia broke off contract extension talks with the Cleveland Indians:
The left-hander, who is eligible for free agency after the 2008 season, says on his Web site that he and his agents have broken off negotiations on an extension with the club. The Indians have recently offered Sabathia a four-year extension believed to be worth $17 million to $18 million per season.
I'm guessing he'll be worth a lot more than that on the open market. Here's the full statement. He still wants to stay with the Indians:
There will be time after the season for the Indians and my representatives to discuss my contract status. I remain hopeful that these discussions will result in a contract extension that will keep me with the franchise for many years to come. In the meantime, in order to avoid any distractions, my representatives and I will not make any further comment about my contractual situation beyond this statement.
Posted by David Pinto at
10:56 AM
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As long as he believes he can stay healthy (a significant risk for someone who's pitched a lot of innings at a young age, including a borderline insane workload in 2007), it's a great gamble for Sabathia. The price tag for top-line pitching keeps going up and up. It's hard to argue he wouldn't be worth as much as Santana.
Then again, he's passing up a lifetime of financial security. If he signed the extension, he'd still be in line for free agency at 31 (if I count correctly). If I were in his shoes, I'd be inclined to go for the Indians' offer -- unless he's convinced that the franchise won't be competitive in the long run, and he wants to go to a major market.
No chance he stays in Cleveland unless they happen to win th Series this season. Reports on WTAM said the sides were not close on either dollars or years. He'll be an Angle or Yankee next season. The question now becomes, do you trade him or let him walk like Thome, Ramirez, and Belle?