Diamond In The Rough

Sabathia Near Record $161M Deal With Yanks

Apparently news of the country’s current recession has not reached the Bronx. The Yankees have reportedly agreed to a monstrous 7-year, $161M deal with coveted free agent CC Sabathia, which would easily amount to the largest contract for a pitcher in MLB history. The mega-deal is in stark contrast to the cost-conscious example set by the Mets in the first major transaction of the Winter Meetings. Francisco Rodriguez is heading to Citi Field for three years for well below market value in a pact that draws "praise from the industry." And the Yankees appear to be the exception to the rule, as teams across MLB are feeling the effects of the downturn. Struggling GM drops out of its sponsorship with the Pirates after only one year, costing the team what President Frank Coonelly terms a "very significant deal." Meanwhile, Fox confirms plans to drop its MLB pregame show in '09 as part of a series of network-wide cost-cutting moves.