CC 6 years/$150 million DO IT NOW

[TwinsBrewersWorldSeries]

If there is ever a player that will be worth $25m/year to the Brewers, its CC Sabathia. Re-Sign him and usher in a new era in Milwaukee

CC, Yo, Parra, Bush, Soup and we don't miss a beat

[jordanmuehl]

It may be a bit too soon to say that, but I'm really tempted to give in to that line of thinking. Watching CC pitch with that consistency and dominance has truly been a treat. I'd love nothing more than seeing him in a Brewers uniform next year. That being said, we are still a small-market team, and that is a ton of money to sink into one player. It probably isn't going to happen, but we can still dream!

[kramnoj]

CC this year was like Pedro Prime in a Milwaukee uniform, plus he could swing the bat a little. Truly amazing. If the Brewers thought for some reason that CC was a better pitcher than the last 3 years when he was merely very good as opposed to amazing, he would be worth it. It's just hard to find teams that can succeed with 25% or so of their budget tied to one player. If the Brewers continued to have success with their farm system, they could rotate in players and then trade them away every few years before they became too expensive. It would be incredibly hard to do, but to have a guy like CC taking the ball for 34 games a year would be incredibly cool.

[Blindcheck]

Treat it like the government....Mark A...can say sign him, but don't put it on the payroll budget....that money comes from mark himself....

 

The government does stuff like that all the time...that is an off budget item, etc.

[mothershipconnection]

I can't even fathom what he's gonna get paid after this ridiculous close of the season.

[TheCrew07]

As I've said since day 1, CC has been/is/will be my favorite pitcher, I've been aquiring him first thing for every franchise I've ever used in every baseball game I've played over the last 4 years, he's an absolute stud. It's weird I suppose that I'm still not a fan of the Sabathia deal given that we're in the playoffs and I myself traded Sheets for him time after time after time. In a perfect world I'd resign him in a heart beat to fill that longterm void we'll have in the rotation after the playoffs. That being said, I will not give in for him just like I will not give in for Hardy... when comes to the Brewer franchise, I want them to be fiscally healthy and asset savvy, signing CC for 1/4 of the payroll would create a yearly fiscal albatross, we have many young position players that are going to need to be paid as well, next year and going forward. I still think that not signing Sabathia and trading Hardy/Fielder/whomever for a starting pitcher is the way to go.

 

I appreciate what Sheets has done, but I'm even more against signing him... again if my choices are Sheets, Sabathia, or some other FA pitcher, I'm picking Sabathia and I'll deal with the consequences of trying to stay under budget every year. However, I'd much rather aquire a young pitcher on the rise or a Shields type this off season than sign a FA.

 

edit. fixed grammar again.

[JohnBriggs12]

If the nation's financial crisis continues, CC and virtually every other player is not going to get offers anywhere near where they think they are. Baseball owners are not immune nor are baseball players.

 

Banks finance businesses of all types. It affects us all.

[paul253]

http://www.fannation.com/truth_and_rumors/mlb

 

Im getting tired of all these national publications just automatically assuming, and almost advocating, the Sabathia go to New York. That line, "That Sabathia made his final three starts on short rest means he fully invested his body into a Brewers team he knows will not invest financially in him" is a low blow to the Brewers. They gave up two of their best prospects to get him, and will offer probably more than they can afford to resign him, yet they make it sound like the Brewers are going to low ball him. Its like we have to apologize for being in Milwaukee.

[tigerbrew]

CC 6 years/$150 million DO IT NOW

I'd do it, CC is worth it.

[Badger OKC]

I think that the Brewers are going to have to give him an out clause after 2 to 3 years in order to compete with the larger markets.

[Oldcity]

By "do it now," are you suggesting the Brewers offer him that like, today? Because why would he ever accept any deal now when he's literally weeks away from free agency?

[piccione88]

Buster Olney wrote an article for ESPN, whcih says that there is a chance that Sabathia will be back. I am not an insider so I cannot read the article but a snippet from mlbtraderumors.com quotes the article with saying " Others in the Brewer's orginazation say milwaukee owner Mark Attanasio will try to make it very difficult for Sabathia to leave-- maybe to the point of risking a colossal mistake"

 

I am not for signing any player esspecially a pitcher to that big of a chunk of your payroll. Sabathia has been abused the last couple of years, and is not in great shape so injury has to be a concern.

[brwrsfan]

Is anyone an Insider that can paraphrase this? I'd be extremely interested in what it says. Buster Olney is one of the few guys I actually feel respects the Brewers, and he was all over the CC to Milwaukee information back in July. Anyone?

[tchimmay]

i could copy and paste it if it's OK (since those aren't "free" words) -- i don't want to ruffle any feathers.

 

the gist is that attanasio may be crazy enough to try to outbid the yankees, and buster feels that could be a mistake. buster also hypothesizes that cc is a physical freak like david wells and can handle the workload he's been given throughout his career.

 

edit: another interesting link from that blog was this article from the la times about the medical procedure that is allowing takashi saito to pitch again this year and may help him avoid surgery.

[logan82]

i could copy and paste it if it's OK (since those aren't "free" words) -- i don't want to ruffle any feathers.

It isn't ok to copy and paste articles on pay portions of websites here.

 

Please no 6 year deals for free agents. A 6/$150M deal would be crippling.

[SJgunny]

I agree why not try to sign CC to a contract. The brewers I think have the capital to do so. The Brewers have a few players who can go that would clear the money to do so.

 

Cameron 6mil he has a 10 mil option

Sheets 11 mil dont know how much he will get cause of injuries.

Gagne 10 mil

Mota 3.75

Suppan 8.5 mil or so

Durham 7.5

Chris Capunao 3.5

I would like hem to sign CC he is a fan favorite, He is a top line starter who I think was over used down the stretch. Rotation would be CC,Yovani,Para do not know who else But with those guys gone thats 50 or so million to sign CC and Kapler, Hart. I think with the 3 mil plus fans the payroll will go up a little anyway. And CC would be a fan draw.

But who would be other starters, and what about the line up. Is Fielder Expendable? What about Weeks, Hall? I would like to see Braun, Kapler or Gwynn Jr , and Hart in the outfield. Kendall , Hardy SS, Escobar or Weeks 2b,Fielder 1b, Maybe Gamel or Hall at

pitching staff

CC

Yavonii

Para

Villi

TBD

 

Bating order

Hart RF They scored runs when he lead off

Hardy SS

Braun LF

Fielder 1b

Kapler CF

Hall or Gamel 3b

Escobar or Weeks 2b

Kendall C

Pitcher

 

 

Bench

Nelson

Gwynn

Escobar or Weeks

Hall or Gamel

maybe go get a guy like Loretta who can hit in clutch.

I know Fielders pay will go up , Brauns and Hars also But I really think they can sign CC and still have a good team. And If Fielder wants to much trade him for pitching Like Matt Cain from San Fran Plug Nelson in at first. Also get a good manager, I like Maddox as pitching coach. but need a manager maybe a Buck Showalter . This is my opinion just throwing it out there.

[paul253]

Well Suppan won't be cleared for two more years, but when he does it will be a big clearing. Between Sheets, Gagne, Counsell, Turnbow, Capuano and Cameron should you choose to not exercise his option, you're talking close to $40 million coming off of next year's books. Add Mota you got 3 more. You're telling me you cant sign Sabathia with all that money freed up, on top of record attendance and increased vending/ticket/parking prices? Next year Kendall's contract comes off, the year after than Suppans. While you have to give raises to Hart Hardy Fielder and Weeks, you'd think at least one, probably Fielder will be gone soon. Hart is replacable by Gillespie or Cain. Weeks will be replacable within 3 years by Green or Lawrie possibly. Braun is signed to a very favorable long term deal. Gallardo and Parra will be cheap for a few more years. The bullpen you have three key pieces in Torress Villanueva and Riske back, and probable relievers in Stetter and Dillard. You can sign another halfway decent reliever or two for say $4 million a piece. Add an outfielder, I've suggested Jim Edmonds for a one or two year deal at say $7 million a year, if that. So an outfielder and two relievers for $15 million, while eliminating $43 million in payroll. No way we committ $28 to raises alone....say we committ $15 million in arbitration raises, thats still $13 million just to get to the current payroll. That'll buy a utility guy, a backup catcher, and some more pitching help.

 

While a 6 year deal may be a huge risk now, it also offers a huge reward. In 6 years whatever Sabathia is making now will be a bargain. He's still relatively young, and he was dominant this year, and more importantly, healthy.

[kramnoj]

telling me you cant sign Sabathia with all that money freed up, on top of record attendance and increased vending/ticket/parking prices?

 

The issue isn't about the ability to clear cash for CC. There are two big issues: How far will the team go in a bidding war for him once he hits the open market, and how feasible is it to devote so much of a team's payroll to one player? If CC gets hurt one year when he's making 25-30% of the team's payroll, it is going to be very difficult for them to compete that year. Even if CC stays healthy, devoting that much to one player means that the team will always need to have a few key positions manned by good pre-arby players. It's tough to expect any farm system to provide that kind of production.

[paul253]

Well that is true, but if you make contract decisions on whether or not someone is going to get hurt, you'll never risk any big contracts. It is a huge risk, but it could also be a huge reward. Sabathia has no history of injuries, which doesnt mean he wont get hurt, but its gotta tell you something.

 

As far as the pre arby players, we do have some guys ready to fill roles. Guys like Cain, Escobar, Gamel, Gillespie, Salome, Green, Lawrie, etc will be cheap for quite a while. Braun is signed long term to a very favorable contract for 7 more years. And with the way we've been drafting position players, you'd think we could afford to take that chance. We're talking about signing one of the best pitchers in all of baseball. If anyone is worth the risk, its gotta be him. Lets just hope if we do sign him we dont have to pitch as much, as in finishing games when we're up 5-0 like Yost liked to do with him.

[kramnoj]

Guys like Cain, Escobar, Gamel, Gillespie, Salome, Green, Lawrie, etc will be cheap for quite a while.

 

Not all prospects become good major leaguers, and those prospects that do won't be cheap at the end of CC's contract. You then have to expect that the Brewers will keep drafting excellent players and turning them into solid major leaguers. That's tough to do, because no team can consistently do that.

[TwinsBrewersWorldSeries]

its tougher to draft and develop #1 pitchers than it is to develop hitters.

 

Our farm system is very good at developing hitters

Our farm system is terrible at developing pitching

[Never Outhustled]

Whats getting lost in the shuffle is the simple fact that CC isn't nearly as good as he has been for the Brewers. Before being traded here, the lowest ERA of his career was 3.21, thats not $150 million good.

 

Before he started his contract push, he was grossly overweight. What going to happen when he gets the security of a 6 year deal?

 

How many times has a 6 year contract to a 27year old pitcher turned out well?

 

CC had a awesome hot streak, and I will always remember watching it. It was awesome. With that being said, whichever team signs him in the offseason will be burned badly by that contract. When emotion is pushed aside, all evidence points to him being a bad investment.

 

If the Brewers want to make a major investment in a player this offseason, it should be in a player who can actually be expected to hold his performance for 6 years. That player is the dominant, unbelievably consistent, hardworking, goldglove 1B Mark Texeirra. He was drafted by Melvin, and could be yet another great former Ranger addition.

[TuesdaysWithRillo]

The ESPN Insider article said that a big reason to keep CC is that he puts people in the seats. Mark Attanasio might break the bank just for that reason as attendance went up hugely after he came to Milwaukee.

[piccione88]

Sabernomics posted an article today which theorized that CC will be worth 6 years 144 million on the open market. That is more than Santana's 138 million dollar deal, I just dont see how a market like Milwaukee can afford a deal like that and not be handcuffed in just about every other deal they make.

[PilprinBuddha]

I agree - 6 for 144 is out of MKE's reach a - 4 year deal is as long as I'd go with any pitcher - unless the alst two years are club options with a buyout.

 

4 years 88-100 is all I'd do. Even that would make me gulp and swallow hard.