CC to the Yanks?!

[CatKnight]

You are right

Everyone should not sign with the Yankees. If you ever become a player in Sabathia's caliber, and become a free agent, I can't wait to see you leave 60 million on the table to not sign with the Yankees

Typical Yankee bias

I dunno. 60 million is an impressive figure, but I'm not sure looking at the final figure is valid. It's more accurate to look at his yearly salary.

The Yanks offered him $22m. The Brewers $20. I don't know what the Dodgers and Giants were ready to put on the table. We're really looking at a $2m/year difference ... and once you're making this kind of money, how much do you really need?

You can argue that the final salary figure (160) matters in case Sabathia takes a sudden nose dive or gets injured. Security (7 yrs vs. 5) is certainly an issue, but I think it hurts CC also.

Let's say in 3 yrs CC DOES want out, and for the sake of argument he's still an elite pitcher. So far so good...but he's just made $23m/yr for the last 3 years. How many teams are going to be willing/able to bid for him at that rate?

[ragecage]

The players that have signed big contracts in NY, off the top of my head...Giambi, Pavano, Wright, A-Rod, Jeter, Rivera, Damon....Pavano, Giambi and Wright all got injured, and Wright and Pavano especially were poor signings to begin with....A-Rod, Jeter, Damon and Rivera have all done fine. I'm probably missing some guys from recent years, but the prevailing reason why the big Yankee deals haven't worked is injury, which is entirely unrelated to the media.

But when these guys did play, they didnt perform as well as they did with their prior clubs. Why is that?

[Moot]

i dunno. 60 million is an impressive figure, but i'm not sure looking at the final figure is valid. It's more accurate to look at his yearly salary.

The yanks offered him $22m. The brewers $20. I don't know what the dodgers and giants were ready to put on the table. We're really looking at a $2m/year difference ... And once you're making this kind of money, how much do you really need?

You can argue that the final salary figure (160) matters in case sabathia takes a sudden nose dive or gets injured. Security (7 yrs vs. 5) is certainly an issue, but i think it hurts cc also.

Let's say in 3 yrs cc does want out, and for the sake of argument he's still an elite pitcher. So far so good...but he's just made $23m/yr for the last 3 years. How many teams are going to be willing/able to bid for him at that rate?

omg its catknight!!

[TheBigBomber]

I haven't read any post, but when I woke up, I watch SportsCenter and saw Breaking News (Sabathia To Yanks). I was sorta surprised, but the deal was giant. I mean the Yanks have the money but if he starts doing what Dontrelle Willis did, the Yanks will be real sorry. I would've suggested a shorter, less- cash deal but whatever.

[Arctic Blast]

I haven't read any post, but when I woke up, I watch SportsCenter and saw Breaking News (Sabathia To Yanks). I was sorta surprised, but the deal was giant. I mean the Yanks have the money but if he starts doing what Dontrelle Willis did, the Yanks will be real sorry. I would've suggested a shorter, less- cash deal but whatever.

Yeah, but if they offered him a shorter, less cash deal it's more likely he wouldn't have signed with them.

[HoustonGM]

But when these guys did play, they didnt perform as well as they did with their prior clubs. Why is that?

Which guys? Giambi did, until he got hurt. A-Rod did. Pavano and Wright were never all that good to begin with.

[RickD]

Still rejoicing with this one! Glad the Yanks got him!

[ragecage]

Which guys? Giambi did, until he got hurt. A-Rod did. Pavano and Wright were never all that good to begin with.

Giambi didnt do that great in NY. He batted over .290 for Oakland in 6 of his 7 seasons while Giambi only did that once in New York, his first season. He was always booed by fans and the media gave Giambi grief. You think when Giambi was healthy that the media didnt affect him?

You will disagree, but there are outside factors to players performances. I look at it in simple terms. You go to job A, your asked to do your job and thats it and you perform well and are beloved by fans and teammates. You go to job B, your asked to do your job, talk to media every day about the same topic which most of the time is negative, your not beloved by fans but booed constantly, you eventually hear it from management.

You say you wouldnt be affected by that? I dont think so.

I think pitchers have it worse, what do they do when they get an ear full about their performance. They start trying to throw the ball through a wall and leads to mechanic issues, and then injury.

[HoustonGM]

Giambi didnt do that great in NY. He batted over .290 for Oakland in 6 of his 7 seasons while Giambi only did that once in New York, his first season. He was always booed by fans and the media gave Giambi grief. You think when Giambi was healthy that the media didnt affect him?

Giambi's first season was directly in line with his Oakland performance. The second year, yes, his batting average dropped. That happens to players all the time for any number of reasons, including pure chance. Then, he got hurt.

You will disagree, but there are outside factors to players performances.

I wouldn't disagree with that. I'd just simply say that it's impossible for us to know which players would be and are affected by it and how, without them specifically acknowledging it, which barely any athlete would do.

[Pavelb1]

Which guys? Giambi did, until he got hurt. A-Rod did. Pavano and Wright were never all that good to begin with.

Did Giambi get hurt? My recollection was:

Really good
stopped doing steroids
Bad, they wanted to send him down, he refused
Got good again and carried the team
And last year was just streaky, but overall good.

He was still pretty good last year, I think whoever gets him is going to do well by him.

[ragecage]

Giambi's first season was directly in line with his Oakland performance. The second year, yes, his batting average dropped. That happens to players all the time for any number of reasons, including pure chance. Then, he got hurt.


I wouldn't disagree with that. I'd just simply say that it's impossible for us to know which players would be and are affected by it and how, without them specifically acknowledging it, which barely any athlete would do.

Ok I can agree with that. Maybe CC can overcome the NY spotlight. I remain skeptical about him though.

[HoustonGM]

Did Giambi get hurt? My recollection was:

Really good
stopped doing steroids
Bad, they wanted to send him down, he refused
Got good again and carried the team
And last year was just streaky, but overall good.

He played in 80 games in 2004, and then 83 in 2007. Yes, he got hurt.

[Pavelb1]

Giambi didnt do that great in NY. He batted over .290 for Oakland in 6 of his 7 seasons while Giambi only did that once in New York, his first season. He was always booed by fans and the media gave Giambi grief. You think when Giambi was healthy that the media didnt affect him?

Giambi hit over 200 HR's in 7 seasons in NY*. I don't know how to do splits by team, but he was pretty damn good. Was he worth a kajillion dollars? no, but I don't think Jeter is either...merchandise income or no...

*And he led the league in HBP last year!

[bucher34]

Giambi didnt do that great in NY. He batted over .290 for Oakland in 6 of his 7 seasons while Giambi only did that once in New York, his first season. He was always booed by fans and the media gave Giambi grief. You think when Giambi was healthy that the media didnt affect him?

You will disagree, but there are outside factors to players performances. I look at it in simple terms. You go to job A, your asked to do your job and thats it and you perform well and are beloved by fans and teammates. You go to job B, your asked to do your job, talk to media every day about the same topic which most of the time is negative, your not beloved by fans but booed constantly, you eventually hear it from management.

You say you wouldnt be affected by that? I dont think so.

I think pitchers have it worse, what do they do when they get an ear full about their performance. They start trying to throw the ball through a wall and leads to mechanic issues, and then injury.

Giambi has performed very well for the Yanks. He's recovered from the whole steroid thing and has come out of it still hitting home runs. He had two 40+ home run years in his first two with the Yanks and his three other full seasons (he's had two other injury seasons only playing half each season) he's hit over 30 home runs. That's what they signed him for is to hit homers and drive people in. He's a quality 1B/DH and I would take him on my team.

[bucher34]

Ok I can agree with that. Maybe CC can overcome the NY spotlight. I remain skeptical about him though.

Giambi was never really the "spotlight" player when he joined the Yanks. He was a blockbuster first baseman, but there wasn't a media frenzy around him like A-Rod, Jeter, or Randy Johnson. Its a toss up with CC, just look at how bad Randy dropped off when joining the Yanks as the media got to him. CC seems to have a cool head, but you never know.