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| Sabathia had many Yankee fans worried the top of their rotation would be headed by someone other than the 290-pounder in 2012. |
With four years and $92 million remaining on Sabathia's seven-year $161 million deal he signed prior to the 2009 season, New York has added an extra year to the contract worth $25 million, including a vesting option worth the same mount in '17 with a $5 million buyout.
The extension now brings the 31-year-old's deal to five-years $122 million, still the highest paid pitcher in Major League Baseball.
Sabathia, who reportedly lost 25 pounds last offseason after cutting his beloved Cap' n Crunch out of his diet, is coming off another All-Star year in the Bronx, going 19-8 with a 3.00 earned run average in 237.1 innings. Although, the 2007 Cy Young Award winner struggled in the season's final two months with a 3-3 recorded, 4.30 ERA and opponents hit at a .314 clip against him. That continued in the postseason as Sabathia allowed 6 earned runs in his 8.2 innings, accumulating to a 6.30 ERA.
Despite that, the California native has enjoyed three fantastic seasons under the bright lights of Yankee Stadium that includes being named the '09 ALCS MVP and his first World Series title.
Last season Sabathia became a 20-game winner for the first time in his career, winning 21 games in an American League leading 34 starts. His 59 wins since becoming a Yankee are the second only the Detroit Justin Verlander's 61 in that three-year span.
Sabathia recently built a home in Alpine, New Jersey and has said numerous times he loves pitching in New York, a love that ultimately meant him dawning the pinstripes for the long haul.
It's a decision that the organization and fans alike have been waiting for all season long. With their already thin starting rotation, New York could ill afford to lose an ace and workhorse like Sabathia, who has tossed plus innings each of the last five seasons.
With this deal, left-hander C.J. Wilson is thought to be the best free-agent starting pitcher on the market this winter, along with Mark Buehrle, Roy Oswalt and Japanese import Yu Darvish.
All whom could slide right into the No. 2 slot in the rotation behind Sabathia.
The five-time All-Star will be 36 when his contract expires and has an outside chance of becoming one of the next or the final 300-game winner in baseball. Sabathia currently ranks fourth on the active wins list with 176, but is the youngest of the bunch as the top three are all 34 or older.
Now, with Sabathia looking to continue etching his name in Yankee lore, their unsigned general manager can look to get his ace some help
The extension now brings the 31-year-old's deal to five-years $122 million, still the highest paid pitcher in Major League Baseball.
Sabathia, who reportedly lost 25 pounds last offseason after cutting his beloved Cap' n Crunch out of his diet, is coming off another All-Star year in the Bronx, going 19-8 with a 3.00 earned run average in 237.1 innings. Although, the 2007 Cy Young Award winner struggled in the season's final two months with a 3-3 recorded, 4.30 ERA and opponents hit at a .314 clip against him. That continued in the postseason as Sabathia allowed 6 earned runs in his 8.2 innings, accumulating to a 6.30 ERA.
Despite that, the California native has enjoyed three fantastic seasons under the bright lights of Yankee Stadium that includes being named the '09 ALCS MVP and his first World Series title.
Last season Sabathia became a 20-game winner for the first time in his career, winning 21 games in an American League leading 34 starts. His 59 wins since becoming a Yankee are the second only the Detroit Justin Verlander's 61 in that three-year span.
Sabathia recently built a home in Alpine, New Jersey and has said numerous times he loves pitching in New York, a love that ultimately meant him dawning the pinstripes for the long haul.
It's a decision that the organization and fans alike have been waiting for all season long. With their already thin starting rotation, New York could ill afford to lose an ace and workhorse like Sabathia, who has tossed plus innings each of the last five seasons.
With this deal, left-hander C.J. Wilson is thought to be the best free-agent starting pitcher on the market this winter, along with Mark Buehrle, Roy Oswalt and Japanese import Yu Darvish.
All whom could slide right into the No. 2 slot in the rotation behind Sabathia.
The five-time All-Star will be 36 when his contract expires and has an outside chance of becoming one of the next or the final 300-game winner in baseball. Sabathia currently ranks fourth on the active wins list with 176, but is the youngest of the bunch as the top three are all 34 or older.
Now, with Sabathia looking to continue etching his name in Yankee lore, their unsigned general manager can look to get his ace some help
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