Does anyone still think the Brewers shouldn't do whatever it takes to re-sign C.C. next season? For 2008 they paid over $27.5 million to Sheets, Gagne, and Sabathia combined. It seems to me they can easily afford to let Sheets and Gagne go, sign Sabathia for $23 million or so, sign a young starting pitcher for $5 million a year or so to replace Sheets, and sign a beer vendor to fill in for Gagne. Even if the Brewers have to increase their payroll a bit, Sabathia will more than compensate for it through increased ticket and merch sales. Plus signing Sabathia to a giant contract would really prove to us fans that the team intends to compete for years to come. The only risk is that he suffers a severe injury and becomes untradable, but the Yankees or Red Sox would probably still take him.
Please discuss.
3 comments:
I've felt all along that the Brewers will make CC a nice offer, but that a bigger market team will be able to trump them in the end. With his MVP/Cy Young caliber performance with the Brew, unfortunately I think this is even more likely.
I won't speculate that much on where he wants to play and how much that influences his decision. He's from Cali, likes playing in the NL, and has repeatedly shown his appreciation for his time in Milwaukee. All that being said, until proven otherwise, you generally have to follow the money in these situations and I don't see Mil. being able to compete with the LA and NY's of the world.
A couple of other things to consider:
- The comment was made recently that the Brewers would not break even unless they win the World Series. Whether that was said somewhat in jest or not, I have a hard time seeing them raising the payroll past the $90 mil range they are in right now.
- While all those folks you mentioned will come off the books, other current players are due raises. I'll do a more accurate post on this in the off season, but off the top of my head: Prince currently makes less than $1 mil...unless we trade him, which seems unlikely for this year anyway, he is due a bump up to the $10 mil range due to arbitration (using Ryan Howard as a guide).
With no CF in our system ready to take over on an every day basis (they have made it clear that Tony Gwynn, Jr. is not in the plans), keeping Mike Cameron around will bump his salary from around $6 mil to $10 mil, per the option year in his contract.
While none of these guys are free agents after this year, decisions regarding extensions or trades will have to be explored for much of our young offensive nucleus (Hardy, Hart, Weeks), with Braun being the only one of that group locked up for the long term.
To wrap it up, I think everyone would love to have CC back, but we'll have to wait and see how other personnel moves change the dynamic of the payroll. There is also the issue of locking up such a large percentage of your payroll to one player, who as incredible as he is, only appears 35 times a season for you.
I guarantee you that when the brewers win the World Series, C.C. will be a brewer. End of discussion.
CC is single, isn't he? No? He has a wife an kids? Fuck it - married men don't get blowjobs.. . what if we started a pledge drive of blowjobs for CC?
Or maybe CC drinks? How about an honorary open pass to the Miller Brewing Grounds for as much dranky-drink as his large heart desires ?
Maybe he's a gambler, you say? I promise the Potowatomi millionaires could get him one of those cards for free that tethers him to an electronic slot machine for as long as his pitching coaches will allow.
Maybe he just wants to max-out in a huge house? How about we take T-Pain's advice and build him the biggest "mansion, somewhere in wiscansin" ever built? Considerring home prices and the sensible wisconsin market, this can't be that crazy.
Or maybe he's a California-Boy for life... he can't get enough surfing and rollerblading while he's not on the mound. Midwest Airlines could give him his own Jet with direct routes to Cali, including of course as many chocolate chip cookies as his big smiley face desires...
All this being said - the organization itself might not have the money, but there's enough other resources here in Milwaukee. How fun would it be if all of the local companies that are making big money off the brewers, threw down something ridiculous to keep CC around?
Even if big smiley left, I guarantee we'd snag some other talented players with crippling vices.
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