Buster Olney is reporting that the Yankees have officially tendered an offer to C.C. Sabathia. The offer is expected to be six years in length and worth more than the Johan Santana’s six year, $137.5 million contract. Additionally, Olney is reporting that AJ Burnett and Derek Lowe are also on the Yankees’ radar.
It should be interesting to see how the CC Sabathia situation develops. Sabathia has indicated a preference to play both in the National League and on the west coast. The Yankees possess neither of these characteristics but appear dead set on making a return to the American League too profitable an opportunity to turn down. Among the National League teams that could potentially pursue CC, no one can match the Yankees’ financial firepower. The Dodgers would seem like a good fit but they seem more willing to put superstar money into a little known 36 year old leftfielder. As long as the Yankees block a Cole Hamels-CC Sabathia one-two punch I would be fine with Sabathia donning pinstripes. While a one-two punch of Johan and CC is nearly irresistible, I sincerely doubt the Mets would be willing to give CC a Johan-esque contract.
At this point, I would prefer the Mets give Burnett a four year deal. A four year deal may not be realistic, but with Pedro off the books, I have no problem with the Mets making a four or five year investment in the 31 year old Burnett at about $16 million a year. While Burnett’s contract will be expensive, it will not be obscene. Burnett pitched 221 innings last year and picked up 18 wins for the Blue Jays. He would a solid #2 starter behind Johan and would allow the Mets to go out and sign a closer and other missing pieces. The Mets may have the payroll flexibility to do this. Check out my post on the Mets’ payroll flexibility.
In October I was a proponent of the Mets bringing in Derek Lowe. But if Scott Boras insists on a five year deal for the 35 year old starter, the Mets should pass.
It also looks as if Boras’s demands may prevent the return of Oliver Perez. In Boras’s “book” on Perez, he states that Perez “is one of the top 5 left handed starters in baseball” and “dominates on the biggest stage.” (Johan Santana, CC Sabathia, Cole Hamels, Scott Kazmir, Jon Lester, Oliver Perez?) The book does not include chapters on Perez’s career losing record, 4.22 ERA and tendency to walk the ballpark every once in awhile. If Boras is looking for five years for the 35 year old Lowe, I can only imagine what he wants for a 27 year old start who is “one of the top 5 left handed starters in baseball.” Realistically though, I do not anticipate a team overpaying for Perez in this market. Maybe Perez will come crawling to the Mets in February with a reasonable offer.
It is interesting that Oliver Perez does not appear to be on the Yankees’ radar.
Pete Lappin (3)
