Back in July, most writers assumed the Brewers would not sign C.C. Sabathia after the season. However, ESPN’s Buster Olney is saying there’s a chance:
Others in the Brewers’ organization say Milwaukee owner Mark Attanasio will try to make it very difficult for Sabathia to leave — maybe to the point of risking a colossal mistake.
You have to figure the Brewers will at least make their best offer to Sabathia. They’ll get a shot at him before he hits the open market – before the bidding war.
If the Brewers let Ben Sheets and Eric Gagne leave, that’s $21MM right there. Guillermo Mota clears another $3.35MM. Non-tendering Chris Capuano would wipe out another $3.75MM. That is $28MM off the books for C.C. in ’09. A six or seven-year deal for Sabathia would surely hamper the Brewers down the road, but it cannot be ruled out.
