MLB - Sports Rumors

Sun Aug 24, 2008 7:55 am EDT

Dodgers have targeted Sabathia as winter prize

By Joe Zedalis

C.C. Sabathia

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The Los Angeles Dodgers might be more likely to sign CC Sabathia than Casey Blake this winter.

That, at least, is the way Blake sees it. The two men played together for five seasons in Cleveland, before the Indians traded Sabathia to the Milwaukee Brewers and Blake to the Dodgers last month. The left-hander is expected to command at least $100 million as the top starting pitcher in free agency, and Blake said Sabathia has shared no inside information about his preferred destinations. Sabathia hails from the Bay Area and has said he is shopping for a home in Southern California.

"I think he wants to be close to home," Blake said. "I think it would be in his best interest to stay in the National League."

Why?

"Just because he rakes," Blake said.

Indeed, Sabathia hit a 440-foot home run at Dodger Stadium this season. Of the three NL clubs in California, the San Diego Padres are expected to slash their payroll, and the San Francisco Giants might shy away from a large contract for a pitcher after their $126-million experience with Barry Zito.

Source: Los Angeles TimesNew Window

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79 Comments

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  1. davfied
    1. Posted by davfied Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:37 pm EDT

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    He will have a lot of teams to choose from.
  2. wicketklown
    2. Posted by wicketklown Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:45 pm EDT

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    The dodgers need to keep Manny. They need a power hitter
  3. Matt
    3. Posted by Matt Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:11 pm EDT

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    Good luck CC. We miss you in C town.
    IMO, this has grown to be a problem in MLB. Draft a player, develop him, comes through the system, becomes dominant and then you can't afford to keep him. It's not the player's fault but rather a systematic problem.
  4. FELIX CAMPITI
    4. Posted by FELIX CAMPITI Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:04 pm EDT

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    That could be a raging bidding war between the Yankees and Dodgers, not to mention others. Southern California does seem to have a lot of things to offer that may sway him away from the Yankees. I hope not!!
  5. One Man Dynasty
    5. Posted by One Man Dynasty Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:10 pm EDT

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    The Dodgers would be a good fit for him. The Giants already have strong young pitching and need to get 7 new hitters for that double A lineup they have. Rowanrd is a #7 hitter - not a cleanup guy. I would be amazed if the Yankees don't outbid everyone on this one though. CC would get to 300 wins if he was a Yankee. However I still think Matt Holliday needs to be the Yankees #1 target via trade next year, or free agency the year after.
  6. hawk-mizer
    6. Posted by hawk-mizer Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:25 pm EDT

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    I realize it's a long shot, but we would love to keep him in Milwaukee. Thank you Cleveland for letting us have him for a short while.
  7. FELIX CAMPITI
    7. Posted by FELIX CAMPITI Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:04 pm EDT

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    #5 I think Mark Texeira and CC Sabathia, or another very quality pither are the Yankees top choices. They have been after Tex for 5 years now, and now he becomes a free agent and is an EastCoast guy, hwo is on record as saying he want's to play on the East Coast. But Southern California has a lot of positive reasons to stay, it is a beautiful area of the country!!
  8. Chinatown
    8. Posted by Chinatown Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:52 pm EDT

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    CC is not going to the East coast, period. He has already stated that. Yankees can have Sheets. Brewers will pick up a replacement from the Free agent list, with all the money saved.
  9. ken
    9. Posted by ken Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:54 pm EDT

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    he would be a good pick up for the dodgers, they will not have maddux and who knows about lowe,just not sure if they can afford manny and sabathia.torre would love to steal cc away from signing with the yankees
  10. Laura Westrum
    10. Posted by Laura Westrum Thu Sep 03, 2009 6:58 pm EDT

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    To #3 a perfect stranger. I agree. It was great growing up with a team that stayed together for a few years.
    How about this for a new hybrid system: bring back the reserve clause but give players a % of the revenue and value of the teams they help create. What do you think?
    Laura Westrum
  11. Laura Westrum
    11. Posted by Laura Westrum Thu Sep 03, 2009 6:58 pm EDT

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    To #3 a perfect stranger. I agree. It was great growing up with a team that stayed together for a few years.
    How about this for a new hybrid system: bring back the reserve clause but give players a % of the revenue and value of the teams they help create. What do you think?
    Laura Westrum
  12. philiafan14364
    12. Posted by philiafan14364 Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:09 pm EDT

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    Wow really? So have all the other teams because hes going to be the best FA available.
  13. cjackson1646
    13. Posted by cjackson1646 Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:26 pm EDT

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    Where's the money coming from? Colletti seems to have doubled the payroll since he got there.
  14. ooodannyboy@...
    14. Posted by ooodannyboy@... Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:46 pm EDT

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    Brewers will keep him. Sheets will be gone, bush will be gone, gagne will be gone and that will open up alot of money to sign CC.
  15. thomasg.
    15. Posted by thomasg. Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:08 pm EDT

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    McCourt need's to FIRE s h i t for brains Colletti . Can you beleive he brought old man maddux back ? For what to get the crap kicked out of him by the phillies . NED is a joke !!! he is old and bring's nothing but old players to the table . The DODGERS need a young GM . GO BLUE !!!!!!!!!
  16. burmeister
    16. Posted by burmeister Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:13 pm EDT

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    perfect stranger--I grew up the same way. I truly feel for teams like the Royals and the Pirates. The Royals would have had an outfield of Damon, Beltran and Dye the old way--and the Pirates just traded away two of what I thought was a pretty darn good outfield trio...
  17. Steve
    17. Posted by Steve Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:21 pm EDT

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    Didn't Dye come up with the Braves?
  18. Steve
    18. Posted by Steve Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:21 pm EDT

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    By the way, the REAL old way was every team brings up the players who couldn't leave if they wanted to, then would be sold to the Yankees.
  19. Benny
    19. Posted by Benny Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:57 pm EDT

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    Laura,
    I think that would be opening up a can of worms. What if the team in question doesn't make money? It also would be hard to determine what the value of a team is.
  20. FELIX CAMPITI
    20. Posted by FELIX CAMPITI Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:04 pm EDT

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    CHINATOWN, A great posting name!!! I really like it.
  21. theserver
    21. Posted by theserver Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:39 pm EDT

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    There was a deal in place by Colletti to get Sabathia this year, and the dodger ownership nixed the deal. The dodgers havn't won a playoff series in twenty years with decisions like that. Plus...who would want to go play for a fan base that arrives in the third inning and leaves in the sixth. Dodger fans think they have won the last 50 world series, they mistake arrogance for passion. If Sabathia was a Giants fan growing up, he'd know this, and never play for the hated ones.
  22. Merritt
    22. Posted by Merritt Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:22 pm EDT

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    I am a Brewers fan but it's unrealistic to think that we could keep Sabathia or Sheets, unless either one of them decided playing for Milwaukee was worth more than the crazy cash they could make elsewhere. Even without paying Sheets, Gagne, etc., you still have to remember built in raises for players who are staying: Suppan gets a raise, if they keep Mike Cameron, very possible, he makes $10 mil. next year.
    Just enjoy the ride while it lasts and start looking toward the (realistic) future. And pray for the healthy and in form return of Gallardo and the maturing of Manny Parra, both of whom have real ace potential.
  23. Matt
    23. Posted by Matt Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:11 pm EDT

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    Yeah, lets go through another off season where the Dodgers spend a lotta money that they don't really have and get a pitcher instead of shoring up 3rd base. Have people forgotten what happened with Scmidt when they had the chance to sign A-rod? Besides they are stuck with Jones' contract, thats why it would hard to sign Manny or C.C. Bolster the defense. Sign Blake to shore up that corner and in turn he will help that offense with a little pop in the lineup.
  24. kobe bryant mvp
    24. Posted by kobe bryant mvp Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:17 pm EDT

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    the padres should go after cc sabathia
  25. Kyle G
    25. Posted by Kyle G Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:50 pm EDT

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    Braves are going to need an ace with Hudson being out most of next year. They've got the money to spend too. Hopefully a crapload of money will keep him away from the west coast.

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