Right now, everyone knows the numbers CC Sabathia has on his table. The Brewers have offered CC $100 million over four years. The Yankees have offered him $140 million over six. These offers are, of course, liable to change, especially if another team gets involved in the bidding. For now, though, everyone's been focusing on the big number thrown out by the Yankees and whether Sabathia will spurn the city he says he fell in love with for they money.
As always, though, there's more to things than the numbers. Jeff Sackmann at Brew Crew Ball breaks down the two offers and considers cost of living in New York and Milwaukee, as well as the effect of contract length on future earning potential and determines that the Yanks' offer might not be as great as people think.
Jeff makes some great points, but I'd like to extend his point about contract length and future earning potential a bit. If Sabathia signs in Milwaukee, he's going to be one of the best pitchers on the planet. In the AL, he was a Cy Young winner. In the NL, he was an alien beamed in from outer space with the sole purpose of eliminating hitters from the face of the planet.
Of course, it's impossible to know what a player will or won't do, but it seems like there's a good chance that Sabathia could dominate the National League for a long time if he stuck around. What would Sabathia's Yankee career look like? His numbers likely wouldn't be nearly as impressive in the AL East and if he doesn't win a World Series in New York, not unlikely given their scattershot management and the strength of the AL East, after signing a monstrous package, well, maybe he should ask Mike Mussina just how far being really, really good gets you in New York if you don't win a World Series.
Certainly, there are things to be said for signing for six years, for signing with the Yankees and playing in baseball's division and on its biggest stage, and of course, for taking all of that money. In the end, there may be truth to the rumors that the MLBPA will make Sabathia accept the bigger offer from New York. At the same time, to simply dismiss the Brewers because their offer isn't for as much money is foolish
Should CC Sign for $100 Million or $140 Million? It Goes Deeper Than Money. originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Thu, 20 Nov 2008 22:25:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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