NEW YORK (AP) -While waiting for CC Sabathia to decide whether he wants to pitch in New York, the Yankees pushed ahead with talks involving A.J. Burnett and Ben Sheets.
New York made a six-year offer to Sabathia on Nov. 14 and met with him on Sunday and Monday, but the Yankees still don’t have a feel for whether he wants to pitch in New York.
They spoke Tuesday with the agents for Burnett, saying they were prepared to exceed what the Yankees believe is the offer he received from Atlanta, a guaranteed four-year deal worth about $60 million. They also met Monday with Sheets and were examining his medical records.
“When you look at his numbers they stack up against anyone,” Yankees manager Joe Girardi said Tuesday. “I think injuries have kind of kept him out of that (top) class, but when he’s on the mound, he’s dynamite.”
Burnett, Sheets and Derek Lowe, who also interests the Yankees, likely will wait until after Sabathia to make their decisions.
it maybe pick up a little bit,” Girardi said.
Girardi doesn’t think Sabathia is reticent to pitch in New York, where failure leads to hard criticism.
“He’s been in the American League long enough to know what New York is about,” he said. “And CC’s personality, I think, would work very well here. He’s a guy that wants the ball every fifth day. He’s a standup guy, he’s a very honest young man. So I think his personality will be great.”
Sabathia is from California and Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti said Sabathia told him on Monday that he wants to join Los Angeles.
“He’s, obviously, the pearl right now,” former Yankees and current Dodgers manager Joe Torre said.
After being slowed by injuries during his first two seasons in Toronto, Burnett was 3-1 with a with a 1.64 ERA in five starts against the Yankees last season.
“I know he pitches well every time I’ve seen him in New York, so makes me believe that he would be OK,” Girardi said.
Add A Comment