Indians Tidbits (2008 season)

[osugrad21]

CPD

ANALYSIS
Cleveland Indians' Sabathia could be gone for good


Thursday, January 31, 2008Paul Hoynes
Plain Dealer Reporter
The next person to stop at Seven-Eleven should pick up chips and dip for C.C. Sabathia's goodbye party. They can hold it on the mound at newly named Progressive Field.
If the Mets complete their trade for Minnesota's Johan San tana, they might as well buy some cold drinks to wash down the chips because there's no way Saba thia will be an Indian after the 2008 season. If the Mets land Santana, it means they've agreed to a five- to six-year deal that could be worth between $130 million and $150 million.
The Indians are not going to give Sabathia a contract for that much money or that many years. But it's just the kind of contract Legacy Sports, Sabathia's representatives, will consider relevant.




Cont...

[osugrad21]

Dispatch
Indians' Sabathia favors expanding drug testing

Thursday, January 31, 2008 6:22 AM


C.C. Sabathia of the Cleveland Indians would welcome expanded drug testing in baseball. "Bring it on," he said. "They can test me whenever. I have no problem with that."



Cont...

[AKAKBUCK]

Originally Posted by Piney

The rumor was the offer was for 4 years at around $20 mil per season. So I am guessing the per year is the largest they have offered versus contract total. But that is me guessing from what I have read and heard on newspaper/radio/TV.

But the key with Santana is the whole package. Does Santana get a Barry Zito like $20+ per year for 7 years? Does he get a shorter contract but bigger per year (like 4-5 years for $25+ mil?) How bout if the Mets do something even crazier?

Just my guess, but if I was CC's agent I am waiting for Santana to sign and use that as the basis for any counter offer to the Indians.

Considering CC's age and durability... I can't imagine it will be a shorter term... (Though Santana's might not be 7 years... I imagine that's what CC will want)

If I were the Tribe I'd do something like..... offer him 22ish for six years ( or seven and start it this season) if Santana gets 25ish and 5... if they can do that kind of math.

Honestly... I tend to think, though that 20mil and the right duration will get it done, he didn't squeeze them for every dime on his last deal either. The key is that the Tribe get this done this year... once he's on the open market, then he'll get a bigger offer from someone and that's when the Union starts putting on the "take the biggest offer" pressure. Its harder when the market isn't open.

Ironically of course... the Indians response to the Mets offer to Santana should be, "Yeah, well the Mets are idiots, too bad they just signed Johann, you can't get that $ from them now." And they'd be right.

I guess we'll see... in some ways, I don't want them to overspend and tie their hands.

[exhawg]

Originally Posted by AKAKBUCK

Considering CC's age and durability... I can't imagine it will be a shorter term... (Though Santana's might not be 7 years... I imagine that's what CC will want)

If I were the Tribe I'd do something like..... offer him 22ish for six years ( or seven and start it this season) if Santana gets 25ish and 5... if they can do that kind of math.

Honestly... I tend to think, though that 20mil and the right duration will get it done, he didn't squeeze them for every dime on his last deal either. The key is that the Tribe get this done this year... once he's on the open market, then he'll get a bigger offer from someone and that's when the Union starts putting on the "take the biggest offer" pressure. Its harder when the market isn't open.

Ironically of course... the Indians response to the Mets offer to Santana should be, "Yeah, well the Mets are idiots, too bad they just signed Johann, you can't get that $ from them now." And they'd be right.

I guess we'll see... in some ways, I don't want them to overspend and tie their hands.

The only way overspending would tie their hands is if CC (god forbid) got hurt and couldn't play. As long as he can pitch at the level that he is at they can always trade him.

[tsteele316]

Originally Posted by AKAKBUCK

Considering CC's age and durability... I can't imagine it will be a shorter term... (Though Santana's might not be 7 years... I imagine that's what CC will want)

If I were the Tribe I'd do something like..... offer him 22ish for six years ( or seven and start it this season) if Santana gets 25ish and 5... if they can do that kind of math.

Honestly... I tend to think, though that 20mil and the right duration will get it done, he didn't squeeze them for every dime on his last deal either. The key is that the Tribe get this done this year... once he's on the open market, then he'll get a bigger offer from someone and that's when the Union starts putting on the "take the biggest offer" pressure. Its harder when the market isn't open.

Ironically of course... the Indians response to the Mets offer to Santana should be, "Yeah, well the Mets are idiots, too bad they just signed Johann, you can't get that $ from them now." And they'd be right.

I guess we'll see... in some ways, I don't want them to overspend and tie their hands.

if you look at the last group of pitchers that signed big long term deals of 5 or more years, the results have not been good. Cleveland better not give Sabathia anything more than a 5 year deal, even 5 years is a little suspect.

[AKAKBUCK]

Originally Posted by tsteele316

if you look at the last group of pitchers that signed big long term deals of 5 or more years, the results have not been good. Cleveland better not give Sabathia anything more than a 5 year deal, even 5 years is a little suspect.

I don't disagree...

I was kind of thinking 6 with year one being this year... (Thus giving him an early raise). But, if you're gonna go long term with anyone, it ought to be the 27 year old with little history of injury... so... I'm not 100% against it.