Sabathia To Sign With Yanks

UPDATE 11:19 p.m.: Tim Brown and Gordon Edes are reporting that the deal is actually worth $161 million for seven years and has an opt out clause after the third year. He can opt out after the 2011 season.

Sabathia had insisted on the clause to satisfy concerns he had about playing in New York.

UPDATE 9:15 a.m.: Jon Heyman just said on WFAN that the deal is not worth $140 million for six years, but $160 for seven years, this is being confirmed by Ken Rosenthal.

Now don't get me wrong, I'm happy they signed him, but I never wanted the Yanks to give him that seventh year. I guess it's what they had to do to up the offer to fully convince him to come to New York. Still, that's a lot of money and a lot of years for a starting pitcher.

From Joel Sherman:

CC Sabathia is not going to play on the West Coast. He is not going to play in the National League. CC Sabathia is going to be a Yankee, The Post has learned exclusively.

After three straight days of face-to-face meetings between GM Brian Cashman and Sabathia, the big lefty decided he wants to spend the next six years of his career as a Yankee. The decision came late last night after Cashman flew to see Sabathia at his home in San Francisco. By the time the meeting was concluded, Sabathia had informed the Yankees that he had made his decision to call New York his baseball home, the Post has learned.

There are still minor hurdles to finalize, notably that Sabathia must pass a physical. But after so much belief that Sabathia was stalling because he wanted to avoid New York, he agreed to the largest pitching contract in major league history, at least $140 million.

You knew when CC called Cashman for a third meeting in San Francisco, with CC's wife Amber, that something was up. Great job by Cashman and company for getting the deal done. Also, I think having Reggie Jackson at the meeting the other night was a very smart idea.