C.C. Sabathia Update v.X

From Bryan Hoch’s mailbag (Yankees Website):

I am hearing all this talk about C.C. Sabathia wearing Yankees pinstripes when he becomes a free agent. Is there any truth to this? How aggressive will the Yankees be since it won’t cost prospects?
– Pajji B., North Bergen, N.J.

Stay tuned; something tells me this could be Hot Stove 2008-09. Hank Steinbrenner said that the Yankees would have pushed harder for Santana if it was only money involved, but the player cost was too high. Since Sabathia hypothetically would only be a dollar figure, let’s just say the door seems open. A lot of cash could come off the books over the winter with Giambi, Farnsworth, Mike Mussina and others.

Okay, I’ve given up on remembering what number I’m on while chronicling the saga that is C.C. Sabathia’s impending free agency. Now seems like a perfect time to comment on the situation, especially with Sabathia struggling mightily to start the 2008 season.

Everything that Hoch says is true. C.C. will DEFINITELY be pursued by the Yankees come the end of the season. That is of course, unless he continues to have a down year (he’s been awful his past few starts). If the year he is currently having scares him into thinking that no other team will give him a huge deal, that would open the door for Cleveland to produce a new contract that is cost effective for them and one that’ll keep him wearing that happy Indian on the top of his head for many years to come.

However, unless Sabathia is injured (you never know), you can’t really expect him to be terrible, all season long. The guy will likely bounce back and dominate like he did last year. I think, no matter what happens, he’ll still end up being a free agent. He knows that he’s good and he knows that he’s capable of winning 20 games or more. Plus, he’s a big, strong, and more importantly, young and accomplished lefty with outstanding control. No matter what happens, someone will be willing to give him a huge deal and that someone will likely be the New York Yankees.