Seven years and 160 million for an overweight, mediocre post-season pitcher? I’m just not buying this as the answer to all of New York’s problems

SCOTT JACOBS

I might be in the minority here, but I think the Yankees just made one hell of a mistake.

I may be in the minority here, but I think New York just buried itself a huge hole.

Sure, sure, C.C. Sabathia to New York looks like the greatest thing the Yankees could have asked for this offseason.  But not so fast my friends.  For there is a horror story behind every happily ever after.  Yes, by signing Sabathia, the Yankees ultimately proved the notion that yes- they are recession proof- and no, they won’t stop till they get what they want.  But by signing the hefty lefty to a seven year deal worth a whopping $160 million I just think the Yankees are crazy!

They see Boomer Wells.  I see Barry Zito.

They see championships.  I see continued first round exits.

They see greatness.  I see slowdown.

They see press.  I see second guessing.

Of course, only time will tell what ultimately happens with C.C. and his new team, New York.

We did learn this much though:

It was about the money.  It was about the money.  It was always about the money.

Now comes the fun part: Is Sabathia worth it?  Quick answer: hell no.  Slow answer: probably not.  You see, while many see the Yankees reloading for more championship runs, I see a team that just handed out a ludicrous contract to an overweight pitcher who hasn’t really proven anything when it matters most: the post-season.

We (as a sports loving nation) like to go with the sexy numbers: the regular season record, the E.R.A, the strikeouts, and the complete games.  But this isn’t just some rebuilding team looking to make a splash and join the post-season party.  This is the Yankees, the team that expects to not only get to the post-season, but expects to win the World Series.  And that’s where I leave myself scratching my head.

Sabathia is a 2-3 lifetime pitcher in the post-season.  He’s given up 22 runs in 25 innings! He’s allowed four home runs, twenty-two (not a typo) walks, and has none– ZILCH– complete games.  But his E.R.A. is almost at 8.

Last post-season, Sabathia was hit hard for five runs and six hits (all extra bases) in a game that quickly got away from the Brewers, who are now left with bones and dust of the team that made the 2008 post-season, ending an incredibly long 26 year drought.  The Brew Crew is most likely going to lose Ben Sheets too, and is reportedly shopping Prince Fielder.

But hey, the Yanks are getting the guy that is a proven post-season winner.

Sabathia is great, a phenomenol player, a tremendous talent.  But the reality is this: he’s an overweight, over-used player, who will probably decline quickly after the first few years of this deal.  The Yankees are taking on a huge financial obligation with this move, and though it may look good now, it’s the back years of the deal which look questionable.  When the contract ends, Sabathia will be in his middle 30’s.  Can he hold up after all the innings he’s logged?  That remains to be seen.  But he’s yet to take over a post-season, and the Yankees are banking on that changing once he puts those pinstripes on.

I’m going to hate to say I told you so, but I feel like a few years from now, when Sabathia’s best years are behind him, and his decline becomes evident, I will probably re-cite this article.  And if I’m wrong, well so be it.  But I’ve got a hunch on this one.  And it doesn’t end favorably for New York.

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