Sources: Yankees make record six-year, $140-million offer to CC Sabathia
By ANTHONY McCARRON
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER
Friday, November 14th 2008, 6:48 PM
After combining for a 17-10 record last season for Cleveland and Milwaukee, the Yankees hope big bucks will lure CC Sabathia to the Bronx.
The Yankees made the first move Friday in what they hope will be a winter pitching spree by offering star lefty CC Sabathia a contract believed to be worth $140 million over six years, according to multiple baseball officials.
If Sabathia ultimately signs for that much or more, it'd be the biggest deal for a pitcher in baseball history. Johan Santana inked a six-year, $137.5 million contract with the Mets last winter. The Yankee offer is "slightly better" than Santana's deal, according to one official.
The Yankees aren't stopping there, either. In the next day or so, sources said, they will make first-strike offers to AJ Burnett and Derek Lowe, as well, in an effort to solidify their starting rotation.
The 28-year-old Sabathia was a combined 17-10 last season for Cleveland and Milwaukee, going 11-2 with a 1.65 ERA for the Brewers after a mid-season trade. He won the 2007 AL Cy Young Award and has thrown 494 innings over the past two seasons. He is 117-73 with a 3.66 ERA in 254 career starts.