No credit crunch for CC

The global economic crisis has bypassed the Sabathia household.  A potential seven year/ $161m deal with the Yankees is on the table waiting to be signed and all that stands between CC and a fitting session for some new pinstripe clothing is a medical.  After a month or more of being told (not directly by the man himself, it should be added) that the standout pitcher preferred to play on the west coast and in the National League, he has ended up on the east coast playing in the junior circuit.  The Yanks’ offer was just too good to turn down. 

So the fairytale return to Milwaukee failed to materialize, despite a considerable offer by the Brewers that showed just how valuable he could have been to the franchise.  The prospect of seeing him hitting while wearing a Dodgers or Giants uniform remains only as a picture in the mind’s eye of a disappointed fan.  The Angels will comfort themselves with the knowledge that Mark Teixeira is the guy they are really after, as will the Red Sox.  Someone will be doubly disappointed.

That’s not an emotion that will be recognised on the 16th of April in New York next year.  52,000-plus fans will enter the new Yankee Stadium struggling to take in the sights and sensations of a gloriously unfamiliar new home, possibly with their recently-acquired ace walking to the mound to deliver the first official game pitch at the venue (subject to any number of circumstances that could scupper the plan).  Sabathia’s former team the Indians will revel in the opportunity to play the role of spoiler, but their odds at succeeding will be slim.

What’s more, spending $161m on Sabathia doesn’t necessarily mean that the starter of the second game at the new stadium will be a holdover from the 2008 roster.  Burnett, Lowe and Sheets seem to be linked even more heavily with the Bronx Bombers now that target one is in the bag.  All three are being pursued by a host of other clubs, but this can often be a mere triviality to the Yankees. 

It’s probable one of the above will join Sabathia in the re-modelled rotation and right now it appears as though Burnett could be the next big signing.  The Braves had been leading the chase after failing to complete a trade with the Padres for Jake Peavy, but whether they will stretch to a five year deal, as the Yanks reportedly are willing to do, is open to question. 

Burdett’s successful 2008 campaign, in which he pitched more than thirty games for only the second time in his career, ensured that he would use his opt-out clause and leave the Jays for a new deal.  Frankly, it seems very risky to lock yourself into a contract with Burdett on the back of his most recent performance.  However, top-class pitching is at a premium and there’s no doubt that when he’s on the mound, Burdett has the stuff to dominate.  It looks like the Yankees are prepared to make this high risk/high reward deal.

Brewers fans would be quite happy if they did.  Even across the Atlantic, you can feel Milwaukee wincing at the thought of a Sabathia and Sheets reunion under the interlocking NY.  Big Ben is another pitcher whose injury history must make any team nervous about guaranteeing him a long-term deal.  No doubt someone will though.

The free agent market has moved slowly so far, with due respect to the Casey Blakes of this world, and everyone was waiting for the first major domino to fall.  Now that it has, unofficially at least, the hot stove will move from a gentle simmer to boiling point.

Both the Orioles and the Nationals have reportedly made big offers to try and tempt Mark Teixeira back to his roots.  In competition with the Angels and the Red Sox, it’s difficult to have too much confidence in either of them being successful with their pursuit.  Even with Tex in their lineup, the Nationals don’t look like they will be contenders in the NL East for several years at least.  The Orioles do have some talented young players (Nick Markakis, Adam Jones and Matt Weiters - the latter looking set to make the catching position his own from ’09 onwards after the O’s traded Ramon Hernandez to the Reds), but competing in the AL East is the toughest task in baseball right now.  My money is on the Red Sox countering the Yankees’ moves by signing the best bat on the market, with Mike Lowell eventually being traded close to the start of the new season.

As for Manny Ramirez, a return to L.A. still seems the most likely outcome.  However it may be the Angels who sign him, rather than the Dodgers, if they lose out on Teixeira.  Either way, Manny may have to come down from his initial demand for a five-year deal before anyone hands over the dollars per year he would be looking for.

In some ways, the potential free agent deals are less interesting than the many trade rumours that are flying around.  Yesterday saw a three-team, twelve-player deal between the Mets, Mariners and Indians in which Omar Minaya added J.J. Putz to the back of his bullpen alongside their free agent acquisition of Francisco Rodriguez.  Today may also see the conclusion, one way or the other, to the prolonged discussions between the Cubs and the Padres regarding Jake Peavy.

The dealing is just getting started.  However, somehow I don’t think anything’s going to top the Yankees’ signing of Sabathia.