What’s Next For CC Sabathia?

In their Division Series, the Yankees out-hit and out-pitched the Tigers.

Still they lost. Welcome to our National Pastime.

And now Yankees management gets to start answering questions about the future, including the future of their only proven and reliable starter, who may now sign to pitch for whomever he likes. Marc Carig:

CC Sabathia, who signed a seven-year, $161 million deal as a free agent in 2009, still has a significant amount of money due to him under the current deal. After this season, he still is owed $92 million over the next four years in the Bronx.

But the 31-year-old lefty could use the opt-out clause as leverage to restructure his deal and make what could be his final contract as a major-league player a more lucrative one. He is also a year younger than Phillies ace Cliff Lee was when he hit the market last season as a free agent.

Lee, of course, spurned the Yankees for Philadelphia, signing a deal that could last six years and be worth up to $147.5 million. It’s expected that Sabathia could be worth that much — if not more.

Well of course Sabathia’s going to exercise his opt-out clause. And of course the Yankees will bestow a shiny new Cliff Lee-like contract upon Sabathia. You know how we feel about long-term contracts for pitchers, but you can’t play in the Yankees’ league without spending a lot of money, and also wasting a lot.

Sabathia’s coming off an excellent season, his best as a Yankee. Over the last three seasons he’s been one of the five or six best pitchers in the majors, in the group with Lee, Roy Halladay, Justin Verlander, Felix Hernandez and Zack Greinke.

Granted, all that might change. Sabathia is not the, umm, trimmest of fellows and there’s always the fear that Sabathia’s legs will eventually break down because of all the weight they have to carry. But it sure hasn’t happened yet.

Will the Yankees wind up eating a big chunk of Sabathia’s next contract? Yeah, probably.

Do they know they’ll probably wind up eating a big chunk of Sabathia’s next contract? Sure.

Will they do it anyway? And should they? Yes, unless you’ve got a better idea on how they put together a championship pitching rotation in 2012 and ‘13. If you do, I’m sure Brian Cashman and the Steinbrothers would love to hear from you.